KABUL (Kashmir English): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Ishaq Dar, is visiting Kabul on Thursday to sign a key framework agreement for the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project. The agreement marks the beginning of a joint feasibility study aimed at developing a new trade and transit corridor connecting Central Asia with Pakistan’s seaports.
Ishaq Dar is accompanied by federal railways minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, the special assistant to the prime minister on Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq, and the secretary of the ministry of railways Syed Mazhar Ali Shah, according to a statement by the Foreign Office.
The UAP railway initiative aims to link Uzbekistan with Pakistani seaports via Afghanistan, creating a transit corridor that could transform regional trade and deepen connectivity between Central and South Asia.
The signing of the Framework Agreement on Joint Feasibility Study marks a key milestone in the project’s development, and reflects Pakistan’s stated commitment to regional infrastructure and economic cooperation.
During his one-day visit, Ishaq Dar met with Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Acting Prime Minister to discuss the railway project and broader issues including regional connectivity, trade, and bilateral relations.
The State Railways of Uzbekistan, Afghanistan Railway Authority, and Pakistan Railways will jointly conduct the feasibility study to assess the project’s technical and financial viability. The findings will guide the planning and construction phases in the coming years.
The initiative also aligns with Pakistan’s broader vision of becoming a trade and transit hub connecting Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East.
