KARACHI, Pakistan

Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan on Thursday inked a trilateral agreement on a key rail project, which aims to connect the three countries, a statement from Kabul's Foreign Ministry said.

The framework agreement on the joint feasibility study for the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project was signed in Kabul.

Pleased to announce the signing of a Framework Agreement on the Feasibility of Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Corridor. This landmark agreement underscores the commitment of the three nations to fostering regional connectivity, trade, and economic cooperation.… pic.twitter.com/D5YXZaz95C

— Mohammad Sadiq (@AmbassadorSadiq) July 17, 2025

The agreement was signed between Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Works, Uzbekistan's Ministry of Transport, and Pakistan's Ministry of Railways.

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, and their Uzbek counterpart Baxtiyor Saidov​​​​​​​ witnessed the signing ceremony.

The UAP project aims to build a rail link to connect Uzbekistan with Pakistan via Afghanistan and facilitate access to Pakistani seaports for Central Asian states.

By facilitating regional trade and transit, the project is expected to promote regional stability, growth, and development, said a separate statement from Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, adding that the signing of the framework agreement is an "important" step towards its implementation.

The proposed 640-km (398 mi) railway line aims to link the Uzbek border town of Termez with Hairatan on the Afghan side, extending to the eastern city of Logar via Kabul, before entering Pakistan’s border district of Kurram via Kharlachi.

During the visit, Ishaq Dar also called on the Afghan Prime Minister, Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund. The two leaders exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, including peace and security, trade and transit cooperation, and regional connectivity.

Recalling their earlier meeting on April 19, 2025, they reaffirmed their commitment to continued engagement and agreed to maintain high-level contacts to promote bilateral relations.

Dar also met with Muttaqi. The two sides called for strengthened efforts to maintain the momentum in bilateral relations and to expand cooperation in trade, transit, and security to the mutual benefit of both peoples.

They agreed to remain engaged to achieve the full potential of regional economic development, including through realization of trans-regional connectivity projects.