One of the poorest countries in the world, and the most impoverished on the Asian continent, Afghanistan may find an opportunity for at least partial economic redemption by becoming a railway crossroads for this vast geographic region now looking with growing interest towards the Arabian Sea. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, not by chance, have both launched independent projects for the construction of new railway lines in Afghanistan. The aim is to reach ports located along the northwestern coast of the Indian Ocean.
Kazakhstan and Afghanistan have signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of a 780-kilometre railway line stretching from Towrgondi, on the border between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, to Spin Boldak near the frontier with Pakistan. A key initial milestone is the creation of a 115-kilometre route to Herat, a northern Afghan city being positioned as a major logistics hub. Kazakhstan has committed to investing just under 500 million euros in developing the project, and plans are already being considered for a joint transport and logistics company to be established in Herat.
According to Kazakh authorities, the new route will become a key link in a future transboundary corridor running through Afghanistan, offering the shortest freight path to the Arabian Sea ports along the Indian Ocean. Apparently, Afghanistan’s challenging domestic political situation, shaped by a strong presence of religious extremism, is not viewed as an obstacle capable of derailing these commercial prospects.
The memorandum of understanding between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan was fast-tracked following the announcement of construction works on the 570-kilometre Trans-Afghan railway line, intended to connect landlocked Central Asia to Pakistan’s ports. Based on 2021 prices, the estimated cost of this new route amounts to just over four billion euros. It is expected that one branch of the Trans-Afghan railway will link up with the Herat hub, allowing for potential synergies between the two railway initiatives.
A glance at a map highlights the ambitious scope of these projects, which, from north to south, would link Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan, the only one of these countries with access to the sea. In the background, there may also be interest from Belarus, which for geopolitical reasons has lost access to ports in the Baltic republics.
Numerous projects are currently underway to revitalise the railways in Kazakhstan. At the end of January 2025, freight trains began operating on the first section of the new double-track Dostyk-Moyynty line, even ahead of schedule. The 127-kilometre stretch between Lake Balqash and Moyynty has entered service, while the entire line extends for 836 kilometres. The double-track upgrade, involving numerous engineering works, began in 2022 and is expected to be completed by autumn 2025. The Dostyk-Moyynty line is crucial for freight transport. Dostyk is a key rail logistics hub on the Chinese border. Once works are completed, the corridor’s capacity is set to increase fivefold compared to pre-upgrade levels.
Piermario Curti Sacchi
