Russia Explores Railway Project Through Afghanistan to India to Reduce Dependence on Strategic Straits
Russia is considering the construction of a railway line through Afghanistan to India, a plan aimed at reducing Moscow’s reliance on the strategic Straits of Hormuz and Bosporus. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin told TASS news agency that establishing this route could provide an alternative passage through straits that, he said, face security threats. He added that Russia seeks to create new transit routes to access open waters and South Asian markets. According to Khusnullin, the plan to develop a railway and a new transit corridor through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan is also under consideration. He emphasized that any route enabling Russia to reach India would be acceptable to Moscow. These remarks come amid rising tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran, which have heightened concerns over the security and continuity of maritime traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most vital energy choke points, with a significant portion of the global oil and liquefied natural gas passing through it. The Bosporus Strait is also a key corridor connecting the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, playing a crucial role in regional trade.
