The Taliban delegation, led by spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, engaged in crucial discussions on the Afghanistan-Trans project during the third Doha meeting on July 2.
https://x.com/Zabehulah_M33/status/1807870701698724008
As posted on his social media profile on the X platform, Mujahid emphasized the importance of this quadrilateral dialogue, focusing on enhancing connectivity and economic cooperation among the participating countries. The Afghanistan-Trans project aims to construct a railway linking Uzbekistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan, a venture seen as vital for regional integration and trade.
During the meeting, representatives from the involved nations highlighted the urgency of accelerating work on the project. Once completed, the Afghanistan-Trans railway is expected to vitally boost regional trade by connecting Central Asia to South Asia, thereby fostering economic cooperation and development.
Initiated in 2017, the Afghanistan-Trans project is projected to require an investment of $7bn. The railway is strategically important for its potential to enhance transportation infrastructure, which in turn could spur economic growth and regional integration.
However, the project faces significant challenges, particularly due to increased insecurity in the region.
Earlier Daryo reported that the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan has proposed a series of measures aimed at enhancing cargo transportation along the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan corridor. Mamanbiy Omarov, the First Deputy Head of the Ministry, highlighted the potential for a significant increase in cargo volume by leveraging this corridor more effectively.
Key proposals include reducing transportation fees and establishing them on a parity basis, introducing cargo insurance with fees aligned to international standards, and ensuring the safety of goods during transit. Additionally, minimizing loading and unloading operations, defining clear routes for heavy and oversized cargo, and efficiently organizing these transports are also emphasized.
The initiative also stresses the importance of digitizing the cargo transportation process to boost efficiency. Furthermore, joint efforts and research to increase the capacity of the Salang Pass, termed the "heart" of the transport corridor, are proposed to facilitate smoother transit.
Comments (0)