Author: Vazira Bazarova, Journalism and Mass Communications University of Uzbekistan
The signing of the trilateral agreement between Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan on July 17 in Kabul marks not just the launch of another infrastructure initiative—it signifies a turning point in Eurasian regionalism and stands as a testament to the assertive and visionary foreign policy of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. At a time when traditional trade arteries are fragmenting and the global balance of economic gravity is shifting southwards, Uzbekistan is not merely adapting—it is shaping the future of regional connectivity and geo-economic diplomacy.
The Trans-Afghan Railway Corridor is the crystallization of a strategic doctrine that redefines Uzbekistan’s role from a passive landlocked nation to an active geopolitical bridge between Central Asia and South Asia, between the Eurasian interior and global maritime markets. The corridor—stretching from Mazar-i-Sharif through Kabul to Peshawar—is not just a physical route; it is a political statement of inclusivity, integration, and long-term vision.
President Mirziyoyev’s foreign policy has consistently been underpinned by two core principles: pragmatic engagement and constructive regionalism. The Trans-Afghan initiative reflects both. It drastically reduces logistical costs (container rates from $900 to $286) and shortens cargo transit times from 35 to 5 days. More importantly, it reconnects fractured historical linkages across the Silk Road, and reintegrates Afghanistan—not as a theatre of instability, but as a functional and essential component of Central Asian order. This is a strategic recalibration of narrative and policy, rooted in realpolitik and regional ownership.
The infrastructure scale—264 bridges, 7 tunnels, and over 600 engineering installations—demonstrates Uzbekistan’s seriousness in implementing large-scale, high-impact projects. It is not an abstract blueprint, but a concrete commitment to regional transformation. This approach is aligned with Tashkent’s long-term planning embodied in the “Uzbekistan–2030” Strategy, which specifically outlines the need to build strategic links with South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, and to expand Uzbekistan’s economic corridors beyond their traditional axes.
Tashkent’s diplomatic calculus views Afghanistan not as a periphery, but as a pivotal node. Since 2011, Uzbekistan has operated the Termiz–Mazar-i-Sharif railway, and from 2019 onward, with Pakistan’s political endorsement of the extended Peshawar line, the project gained strategic irreversibility. Today, it enjoys broad geopolitical endorsement—from Russia to China, from CPEC frameworks to CASA-1000, and potentially even Persian Gulf energy dynamics.
This is where Mirziyoyev’s diplomacy stands out: he does not pursue isolationist neutrality, but active, multi-vector engagement grounded in mutual benefit and institutional pragmatism. The Trans-Afghan Corridor complements Uzbekistan’s energy diplomacy, enabling electricity exports, port access to Gwadar and Karachi, and integration with Gulf supply chains. The corridor is no longer just about railways—it is a platform for political trust, regional employment, and strategic interdependence.
The Kabul agreement must therefore be read not as a technical memorandum, but as a political manifesto for regional cooperation. As the relevance of northern and Caspian routes fades and the demand for diversified corridors rises, Uzbekistan is positioning itself at the heart of a new geoeconomic order, anchored in realism and strategic foresight.
In sum, the Trans-Afghan project is not merely a foreign policy success. It is proof of concept for President Mirziyoyev’s broader regional vision—a vision that seeks not dominance, but balance; not confrontation, but coordination. Under his leadership, Uzbekistan is no longer a peripheral player. It is becoming a norm-setting actor, a regional architect, and a driver of connectivity-driven stability in the heart of Eurasia.
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