Islamabad: Pakistan and Afghanistan have reaffirmed their commitment to the USD 4.8 billion Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Line Project, a major regional connectivity initiative that aims to link Central Asia with Pakistan’s southern ports via Afghanistan.
In a telephone call on Sunday, Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar agreed to expedite work on finalising the framework agreement for the railway project, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office.
The UAP railway is a trilateral effort between Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan. Once completed, it will stretch over 573 kilometres from Tashkent to Peshawar via Kabul. The corridor is expected to significantly boost regional trade and connectivity by linking landlocked Central Asian countries with Pakistan’s ports of Gwadar and Karachi.
A day earlier, Foreign Minister Dar also held a call with Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, during which both sides discussed preparations for the agreement signing ceremony in consultation with the Afghan leadership.
During his conversation with Muttaqi, Dar also welcomed Afghanistan’s decision to upgrade diplomatic ties with Pakistan, following Islamabad’s recent announcement to elevate its diplomatic post in Kabul from chargé d’affaires to ambassador-level. Kabul has reciprocated the move, marking a positive step in improving bilateral relations.
Muttaqi termed the exchange of ambassadors a “very positive development” and expressed optimism about enhanced cooperation between the two countries. The two leaders also reviewed progress on decisions made during Dar’s recent visit to Kabul on April 19 and reaffirmed their commitment to building mutual trust and sustained engagement.
Currently, Pakistan and Afghanistan have embassies in each other’s capitals, but both had been operating under charge d’affaires. The upgrade to ambassador-level ties comes amid a broader push to stabilise relations and deepen collaboration on regional projects.
China was the first country to accept an ambassador from the Taliban-led government in Kabul, though formal recognition of the administration remains limited internationally. The United Arab Emirates and a few others have since followed suit.
The UAP Railway Line is seen as a cornerstone of economic cooperation in the region and a key element of Pakistan’s broader strategy to promote trade, connectivity, and economic integration across Central and South Asia.
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