KABUL – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Kabul on Thursday to oversee the signing of a landmark trilateral railway agreement between Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed.
The Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project will establish a crucial transport corridor, connecting Central Asia to Pakistani seaports through Afghanistan. Officials say the railway will not only boost trade and transit among the three nations but also enhance regional connectivity, stability, and economic growth.
Dar, who will witness the signing of the Framework Agreement on a Joint Feasibility Study, is accompanied by Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, and senior officials from the railways ministry.
In a statement, the Foreign Office underscored Islamabad’s commitment to the project, calling it a vital step in transforming regional trade routes. “The signing of the framework agreement is an important milestone towards the implementation of this transformative initiative,” the statement read.
During his stay, Dar is scheduled to meet Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister and hold talks with the acting prime minister to discuss bilateral relations, regional security, and broader international developments.
Pakistan recently upgraded its diplomatic representation in Kabul, elevating its Chargé d’Affaires to ambassador-level in May. Earlier this month, both countries held an inaugural round of additional secretary-level talks, focusing on trade, transit, border management, and security cooperation. Both sides reiterated that terrorism remains a major threat to regional peace.
The UAP railway project is being viewed as a critical step towards strengthening trade integration between South and Central Asia, paving the way for long-term economic cooperation.
