Kazakhstan pledges $500 million to kickstart Trans-Afghan railway project

Kazakhstan intends to invest at least $500 million in the initial phase of constructing the Trans-Afghan railway, Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin announced.

The project is designed to open the shortest route for Kazakhstan to reach the world’s oceans, which officials say will accelerate and expand the supply of essential goods and equipment while significantly strengthening the country’s logistics network.

Zhumangarin stressed that the government expects other countries, particularly those in the Middle East, to actively participate in the venture.

“It is very beneficial for Kazakhstan [to participate in the construction of the Trans-Afghan railway], as it is currently the fastest route to the seas. It is no secret that we need a road to the seas; it is vitally important today. Without it, we are suffocating, and it is quite difficult to talk about further development. Therefore, we will do this, and sooner or later we will achieve our goal,” he said in response to a question from TASS.
“In the first stage, we want to invest at least $500 million … in order to set an example and start construction,” he added.

The Trans-Afghan railway would give Kazakhstan access to global shipping lanes via Pakistani ports. The project, discussed intensively over recent years, has drawn interest from multiple countries. Uzbekistan, which, like Kazakhstan, is landlocked, as well as Russia and Belarus, which are seeking to reorient their logistics routes amid sanctions, have all expressed support. Pakistan stands to benefit from increased transit traffic, while Afghanistan would gain a key role in regional transport.

The railway would also provide Turkmenistan with an alternative maritime outlet and give Iran an additional logistics route to Central Asian countries and India.

Just weeks ago, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan signed an agreement to prepare a feasibility study for the project, expected to be completed by the end of the year. Kazakhstan recently signed its own memorandum with Afghanistan for the creation of the Trans-Afghan railway.

Russian specialists are also involved in preparing the feasibility study for the railway.

By Tamilla Hasanova