Russia Discusses Rail Links to the Indian Ocean with Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan
Economy
Russia is working with Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan on the possibility of extending railway routes through Afghanistan and Pakistan toward the Indian Ocean. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said the country’s Ministry of Transport is actively working on the initiative.
According to Khusnullin, a railway route currently being developed is being considered as an eastern bypass of the Caspian Sea. At the same time, Russia and its Central Asian partners are examining a road corridor through Uzbekistan and Afghanistan toward the Indian Ocean.
“We are working on this quite actively, and our colleagues in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are also exploring the possibility of extending railways through Afghanistan and Pakistan to the Indian Ocean,” the Russian deputy prime minister said.
Khusnullin described the proposed route as an additional transport corridor, saying its importance has increased in light of the situation in Iran. He also stressed the economic and transport rationale for developing both eastern and western routes around the Caspian Sea.
The proposed network would expand rail and road connectivity between Russia, Central Asia and South Asian markets through Afghanistan, with onward access toward Pakistan and the Indian Ocean.
“We are working on this quite actively, and our colleagues in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are also exploring the possibility of extending railways through Afghanistan and Pakistan to the Indian Ocean,” the Russian deputy prime minister said.
Khusnullin described the proposed route as an additional transport corridor, saying its importance has increased in light of the situation in Iran. He also stressed the economic and transport rationale for developing both eastern and western routes around the Caspian Sea.
The proposed network would expand rail and road connectivity between Russia, Central Asia and South Asian markets through Afghanistan, with onward access toward Pakistan and the Indian Ocean.
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