- DPM DAR Meeting Afghan FM MUTTAQI to stimulate cooperation.
- The leaders reaffirm the commitment to regional connectivity.
- Ishaq Dar calls the “transformational” railway project.
Pakistan has signed a trilateral railway agreement with Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday in order to strengthen regional connectivity and economic integration.
The Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) railway project aims to build a rail link to connect Uzbekistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan and facilitate access to Pakistani sea ports for Central Asian states.
By facilitating regional trade and transit, the project should promote regional stability, growth and development.
In an article on X, DPM DAR congratulated the people and the governments of the three nations for the signing of the framework agreement on the joint feasibility study for the Naibabad – Kharlachi rail link under the UAP railway corridor.
“I also thank the foreign ministers of Uzbekistan @FM_SAIDOV & Afghanistan for their support and their commitment for the timely signing of the agreement. We have been closely engaged throughout the negotiation process to finalize the details,” he said.
DAR said that the UAP railway corridor, an important step in the progress of regional connectivity and economic integration, will connect the countries of Central Asia to Pakistani sea ports across Afghanistan.
He also mentioned that the signing of today’s agreement is the result of the leadership and commitment of the last PDM government (2022-2023), when he was responsible for the Minister of Finance to lead “this effort with the fraternal countries, and we have collectively laid the foundations for this transformational project”.
The DPM DAR – which witnessed the signing of the agreement – was accompanied by the Minister of Railways Hanif Abbasi, special representative of Afghanistan and the secretary of the railways, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
In a previous statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs underlines the importance that Islamabad attaches to the successful realization of the UAP rail project.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the signing of the framework agreement on the joint feasibility study between the three countries participating in Kabul will be an important step towards its implementation.
Meeting with Afghan FM
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said that FM DAR had met the Minister of Affairs of Aftranes Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul, as well as higher level delegations on both sides.
During their meeting, the two parties called to strengthen efforts to maintain momentum in bilateral relations and to extend cooperation in trade, transit and security, areas for mutual benefit of the two peoples.
“They agreed to remain engaged to reach the full potential of regional economic development, including through reality[s]ation of transregional connectivity, “said FO.
Pakistan, in May, announced the upgrading of its business in Afghanistan at the level of an ambassador in the midst of improvement of links with the neighboring country.
Earlier this month, Islamabad and Kabul, during the inaugural round of the additional mechanism at the level of the secretary between the foreign ministries of the two countries, agreed with bilateral efforts to further strengthen the legal movement of individuals through borders.
The two countries have discussed the main areas of bilateral interest, including cooperation, security and connectivity of trade and transit and terrorism recognized as a serious threat to regional peace and security.
