Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway map signed in Tashkent

KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan on Tuesday signed a roadmap for the landmark Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway track project in the Uzbek capital Tashkent, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Wednesday said implementation of the multi-billion-dollar railway project would be a key step forward for regional cooperation and connectivity of the Central Asia and South Asia through Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar, who chaired the joint meeting between the three neighbors, thanked Uzbekistan for hosting the valuable event.

He also thanked international financial organizations for their active participation and cooperation.

“Regional connectivity is not only for economic development, prosperity, commercial, transit and investment purposes, but it is also for capacity building for peace, stability and security,” he said.

Atmar said implementation of the railway project among the three countries was an important part of Afghanistan’s vision for regional connectivity.

He added that following the rules of World Trade Organization during the implementation of the project and preparing required policies would help resolve probable challenges.

Sardor Umurzakov, Deputy Prime-Minister and Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan, termed Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway an important project and said its implementation would lead to economic development in the Central Asia. He said his country was fully ready for successful implementation of the scheme.

Pakistan Prime Minister’s senior advisor, Abdul Razaq Daud, said that the roadmap for the trilateral project would connect the three countries and would open a new chapter in regional commerce.

Representatives of some international financial organizations including Islamic Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Asian Development Bank and some others were also present on the occasion.

Mds/ma

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