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BEIJING, July 19 (APP):The construction of the railway connecting Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan holds multi-dimensional strategic value. It will not only reshape the regional geo-economic pattern but also provide a new path for connectivity between Central Asia and South Asia.
This railway will provide Central Asian countries with an independent passage directly to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port and Karachi Port. For instance, the transportation cost from Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, to Karachi, Pakistan, will be only half of that via Iran. This breakthrough will enable Central Asian countries to have greater autonomy in energy exports and the choice of trade routes.
These views were expressed by Prof. Cheng Xizhong, Senior Research Fellow at the Charhar Institute while commenting on the project on Saturday.
This railway will directly connect the Central Asian railway network with the South Asian railway network, thus, forming the Central Asia-South Asia Economic Corridor. Uzbekistan will strengthen its strategic cooperation with Pakistan through this railway, while Afghanistan, as an intermediary country, will enhance its geopolitical hub status.
He said that China will be deeply involved through the Belt and Road Initiative, and plans to connect the railway with the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to form a China-Central Asia-South Asia continental bridge.
After the railway is completed, the transportation time of goods from Central Asia to Pakistan will be shortened from 30 days to 15 days, and the cost will be reduced by 30% -35%. For example, Uzbekistan’s natural gas and mineral resources can be quickly transported to Gwadar Port by the railway and then exported to the Middle East and African markets. Afghanistan’s copper and iron resources can also be exported on a large scale through this railway, which is expected to drive an annual GDP growth of 2%.
This railway passes through cities such as Mazar-i-Sharif and Kabul in Afghanistan, which will drive infrastructure and trade development along the route. Therefore, Afghanistan will be converted from a landlocked country to a land-linked hub by charging transit fees and developing a logistics hub economy.
The construction and operation of this railway will create a large number of job opportunities, alleviate poverty and social unrest. Historical experience shows that economic development can gradually eliminate the soil that breeds extremism, he added.
Prof Cheng said that the successful implementation of the railway project can enhance the independent development capabilities of Central and South Asian countries and reduce external intervention under the guise of security assistance.
This railway needs to cross the Hindu Kush Mountains, and construction of some sections will be as difficult as the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. China, with its experience in high-altitude railway construction, can provide key technical support such as tunnels and bridges.
Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and satellite positioning systems can be deployed along the railway to enable cargo tracking and intelligent scheduling. For example, Pakistan plans to build a digital logistics platform at the Gwadar Port, which will be connected to the railway data system to enhance supply chain transparency.
The strategic value of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan Railway far exceeds the infrastructure itself. It is a crossroad of civilization connecting Central Asia and South Asia, and a catalyst for regional security and prosperity. By breaking through geopolitical barriers, unleashing economic potential and exporting technological standards, this project is expected to reshape the power map of the Eurasian continent. However, its successful implementation will rely on political mutual trust among the three countries, financial support from the international community, and effective management of security and environmental risks. If the challenges can be overcome, this railway will become another benchmark project of the Belt and Road Initiative, providing a new paradigm for the development of landlocked countries, he concluded.