Russian contractors will take part in the construction of «Century Project » of Uzbekistan

It is confirmed that Russian railway companies will also participate in the construction of the trans-afghan railway network, beside «Uzbekistan railways».  This was stated in a meeting with a delegation headed by the First Deputy Minister of Commerce of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Muhammad Salih Farrukh, at the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade.
During the meeting, the parties discussed the development of the «Road Map» on the implementation of the terms of Transit and Trade Agreement signed during the visit of the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Republic of Uzbekistan (15 July – 16, 2021).

The next steps for the construction of the Termez-Mazari Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar Trans-Afghan railway project were discussions on negotiations. It is important to note that Tashkent has already had a final agreement on the railway project with the Government of Afghanistan.

The project connects the railway lines of the European Union and Russian Federation with Central Asia, India and South-East Asia. The value of the project is estimated to reach 5 billion dollars.

According to the report of the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, in partnership with «Uzbekistan railways», Russian railways are also prearranging enrollment in the construction of the trans-afghan railway. Russian railways companies, as well as the Rosgeldorprojekt and the Institute of Economics and Transport Development, will provide assistance in calculations, cartographic materials, advantages, and disadvantages of each route.
It should be mentioned that earlier the Taliban-lead interim government of Afghanistan had approved the route of the Trans-Afghan railway.

For reference, Uzbekistan is planning to build a railway across Afghanistan which will reach the Indian Ocean. Several major projects have also been under preparation for this purpose. The international conference «Central and South Asia: regional cooperation. Threats and Opportunities »was held at realization of these projects in Tashkent in July 2021.  Furthermore, during a visit to southern Surkhandarya region in June last year, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoev praised the construction of the Mazari Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway, which may give Uzbekistan the opportunity to reach the sea, calling it the «Project of the Century». This railway line starts exactly from Termez, the administrative center of the Surkhandarya region, where it crosses borders with Afghanistan.