ISLAMABAD – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is in Kabul to formalise a trilateral railway agreement between Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan, according to the Foreign Office.
The Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project aims to create a direct rail link connecting Central Asia with Pakistani seaports via Afghanistan, improving trade, transit, and regional connectivity.
Dar will attend the signing of the Framework Agreement on a Joint Feasibility Study, accompanied by Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan, and senior officials.
The Foreign Office described the move as a “significant milestone” for advancing the long-term project, which is expected to promote economic growth and regional stability.
Diplomatic engagements in Kabul
Aside from the railway signing, Dar will hold talks with Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister and also call on the acting prime minister. The discussions will cover bilateral relations, trade, security cooperation, and regional developments.
Strengthening ties
Pakistan recently upgraded its diplomatic mission in Afghanistan, appointing an ambassador-level representative. Both nations have also initiated new dialogues to improve border management, facilitate legal movement, and enhance trade and transit mechanisms.
Earlier this month, during secretary-level talks, Islamabad and Kabul reaffirmed their commitment to counter-terrorism and enhance connectivity initiatives.
The UAP Railway is widely seen as a transformative step toward linking Central and South Asia, offering landlocked states new access to global markets.