Khalilzad: Kabul-Islamabad Tensions Are Biggest Obstacle to Trans-Afghan Project
Zalmay Khalilzad, former US special envoy for Afghanistan, has stated that hostile relations between Kabul and Islamabad are the largest barrier to implementing the strategic Trans-Afghan project. He emphasized that ongoing political tensions between the two sides pose a serious challenge to the future of this regional initiative.
Khalilzad, in a message posted on the social media platform X, welcomed the support of Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for this project and recognized his leadership role in advancing this important initiative. According to him, the Trans-Afghan corridor can connect Central Asia through Afghanistan to South Asia, the Arabian Sea, the Persian Gulf, and the Indian Ocean.
He added that the realization of this project has the potential to promote economic prosperity and strengthen stability in Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. However, he warned that continued political disputes and the lack of trust between the Taliban administration in Kabul and the government of Pakistan remain fundamental obstacles to achieving this goal.
The Trans-Afghan project is considered one of the major regional transit initiatives and its success depends on sustained cooperation and balanced relations among the involved countries—an element currently uncertain given the persistent tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.
