Will China and Tajikistan build a railway? Just a fantasy.

According to Central Asia Times, in 2025, Tajikistan officially expressed its intention to join the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan (CKU) Railway project.

As stated by Tajikistan’s Ministry of Transport, both sides discussed possible support China might provide for Tajikistan’s participation in the CKU Railway project, as well as cooperation in developing a broader multimodal transport corridor linking China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey, and Europe.

At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization ministerial meeting, Tajikistan’s Minister of Transport Ibragim emphasized the necessity of advancing and integrating several major international corridors:

1. China – Kyrgyzstan – Tajikistan – Afghanistan – Pakistan – Indian Ocean

2. China – Tajikistan – Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan – Iran – Turkey – Europe

3. Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR)

According to Eurasia Today in 2024, Tajikistan has proposed concrete measures to build roads and railways along the "China–Tajikistan–Afghanistan" corridor.

This proposal is closely related to the improvement of the overall security situation in the region, which has created new opportunities for expanding trade and connectivity among countries.

Afghanistan, with its advantageous geopolitical position in Asia and its desire to establish strong economic and political ties with international and regional partners, is cooperating with neighboring countries to develop roads and transit corridors.

During talks held in Dushanbe with China, President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan proposed several practical steps:

"The construction and reconstruction of the Karakul–Wanchi–Rushon border road will help improve the 'China–Tajikistan–Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan–Iran–Turkey' transit corridor. We suggest building and upgrading the Dushanbe–Kurman road, from Rushon to the Kurman–Karasu border crossing. Additionally, we have proposed plans to construct roads and railways along the 'China–Tajikistan–Afghanistan' corridor to expand trade links," Rahmon said.

Meanwhile, the cross-Afghanistan railway project, which aims to open up vast economic opportunities for regional trade and cooperation, is under construction. This railway spans 600 kilometers, primarily passing through Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Initial estimates indicate the project will cost $5 billion, with a potential transit cargo capacity of 20 million tons.

The project is crucial for enhancing transportation and trade links between Central and South Asia, connecting Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, and promoting the development of Eurasian transport corridors.

Once completed, Central Asian countries will be able to access an Indian Ocean port, reducing transit time from 35 days to just 5 days and cutting transportation costs by 40%.

The cross-Afghanistan railway was originally proposed by Uzbekistan in December 2018, aiming to extend Afghanistan’s railway network from Mazar-i-Sharif to Kabul, and further to Paktia Province.

In Afghanistan’s Badakhshan Province, work on the Wakhan Corridor is underway, linking the Wakhan region with the Chinese border. This route will allow direct market access between Afghanistan and China, significantly shortening distances and reducing import and export costs.

With the opening of the Wakhan Corridor, trade and bilateral relations between Afghanistan and China are expected to strengthen, benefiting both nations.

Afghanistan and China have already begun negotiations to launch the Wakhan Corridor, which will directly connect the two countries and potentially reduce Afghanistan’s reliance on certain regional nations for transit trade.

The Wakhan Corridor will also benefit Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Pakistan, creating significant opportunities for trade growth and economic activity in the region. This route is expected to further promote the trade of various goods among the countries in the region.

In December 2020, Iran and Afghanistan launched their first cross-border railway. The 225-kilometer rail line connecting Iran’s eastern city of Haf and Afghanistan’s western city of Herat began construction in 2007.

Source: Central Asia Times and Central Asia Light

Original: toutiao.com/article/1865506027387915/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.