Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Pakistan, Yerzhan Kistafin, stated in an interview with a Pakistani media outlet that his country is prepared to cover the entire cost of constructing a major rail corridor linking Central Asia to Pakistan’s ports (Karachi and Gwadar) through Turkmenistan and Afghanistan.
Kabul 24: He emphasized that Afghanistan is viewed not as an obstacle, but as a key transit partner in this project. Expanding regional trade and connectivity could contribute to stability and economic development in Afghanistan.
Under the proposed route, rail cargo would travel from Kazakhstan into Turkmenistan, then cross western Afghanistan (approximately 687 km in the Afghan segment), enter Pakistan at Chaman, and connect to Pakistan’s national railway network for onward transport to southern ports.
Kazakhstan has committed to fully funding the Afghan portion, describing it as a mutually beneficial commercial investment rather than aid. “We are not asking Pakistan for a single penny,” the ambassador noted.Construction of the Afghan section is expected to take about three years once agreements are finalized.
A prior memorandum of understanding worth $500 million was signed between Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Works and Kazakhstan for related segments (e.g., Torghundi–Herat).The overall project is estimated at around $7 billion, with a formal MoU expected during the Kazakh President’s visit to Pakistan on February 3, 2026.Muhammad Ashraf Haqshanas, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Works, highlighted the project’s broader significance: “This corridor is not only vital for Afghanistan and Kazakhstan but offers a major opportunity for the entire region.
Countries can transport goods faster, at lower cost, and in shorter time, boosting regional trade.”This initiative aligns with efforts to revive trans-Afghan rail links and position Afghanistan as a central transit hub connecting landlocked Central Asia to the Indian Ocean via Pakistan.
