The Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan, Ilkhom Mahkamov, engaged in high-level discussions with the Acting Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation of Afghanistan, Hamidulla Okhunzoda, during a meeting held in Tashkent. The talks, centered around bilateral cooperation, particularly emphasized the expeditious realization of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway construction project, Ministry of Transport reported.
The railway project, aimed at fostering regional connectivity, has been a collaborative effort between Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. One of the key focal points of the meeting was the agreement on levying fees for road transport on a parity basis between the two nations.
Furthermore, the parties involved pledged to develop transit transport routes through the territory of Afghanistan. This strategic decision is anticipated to create a more efficient and interconnected transportation network, enhancing trade and connectivity among the participating countries. A crucial aspect of the negotiations revolved around providing benefits on tariff rates for rail transport.
The historical significance of this collaborative effort dates back to February 2021 when authorities from Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan signed a road map for the construction of the Termez - Mazar-i-Sharif - Kabul - Peshawar railway. Subsequent to the signing, the involved parties successfully completed field research and reached a consensus on the railway gauge width, set at 1520 millimeters. To streamline the project's coordination, a project office was established in Tashkent in May of the same year.
Looking ahead, the participants in the project envision a comprehensive transport corridor with a transit potential of up to 20 mn tons of cargo. The estimated cost of the endeavor is approximately $5 bn. Once completed, this transport corridor is anticipated to seamlessly connect the countries of Europe, Russia, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and further extend its reach to the states of Southeast Asia.
On December 19, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan held talks with Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, emphasizing the need to enhance bilateral collaboration, specifically in transportation and logistics. Qatar affirmed its complete backing for Uzbekistan's ambitious Trans-Afghan Railway project during the leaders' meeting, Daryo reported.
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