KABUL, July 25 — Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan have signed a landmark trilateral agreement to advance the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project, aimed at improving regional connectivity and boosting trade across Central and South Asia.

Officials from the three nations met in Kabul to formalize the agreement, which includes conducting a joint feasibility study for the 640-kilometre rail line. The proposed railway will begin in Termez, Uzbekistan, pass through Hairatan and Kabul in Afghanistan, and enter Pakistan via Kharlachi in Kurram district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The route will eventually link to Pakistan's railway network, giving landlocked Central Asian countries access to the Arabian Sea through Pakistani ports such as Karachi, Port Qasim, and Gwadar.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, the project aligns with Islamabad's broader vision of regional economic integration. It will help reduce transit costs, cut travel time, and create new trade corridors.

"The trilateral railway is not just a transport project, but a strategic initiative to unlock the region's economic potential," said a senior official from Uzbekistan's Ministry of Transport. Afghan officials also hailed the agreement as a symbol of regional cooperation amid the country's challenging circumstances.

The three governments committed to sustained collaboration to ensure timely implementation. The UAP Railway Project is expected to spur economic growth, promote political stability, and create employment opportunities across the region.

This agreement builds on earlier memorandums signed in 2021, reflecting the countries' continued commitment to infrastructure development despite regional security and financial challenges.

Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan, Ministry of Transport, Uzbekistan, Press statements from the trilateral meeting in Kabul, July 2025