Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan Reach Tentative Accord On New Sea Corridor

A nascent plan aims to link Uzbekistan to Pakistani ports via Afghanistan, with officials saying preliminary studies and field surveys are already under way.

Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan have struck a tentative understanding to explore a land route that would carry Central Asian goods to the Arabian Sea, Uzbek officials said. The transport ministry in Tashkent reported that a feasibility study is in progress and survey teams have begun work along proposed alignments, steps that could speed efforts to open a new export channel through Karachi and Gwadar.

Deputy Transport Minister Jasurbek Choriev, speaking at an Asian Development Bank gathering in Samarkand earlier this month, described the proposal as an early-stage project that still needs financing and partners. He said officials are assessing how quickly investment can be attracted and which international or private backers might join. Choriev also told delegates that an alternative route through Iran’s Bandar Abbas is being treated as impractical for the moment because of regional volatility.

Beyond funding, planners face steep logistical and political obstacles. The route would cross rugged terrain inside Afghanistan, and Kabul’s rulers have shown an uneven record as interlocutors and guarantors of security. Because the current Afghan administration is not recognized by Washington or many European capitals, securing loans or grants from leading multilateral lenders such as the ADB or World Bank is likely to be difficult without new arrangements or private capital.

Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan add another layer of uncertainty. The two neighbors exchanged fire earlier this year in a flare-up that briefly disrupted border trade. A shaky cease-fire has held since March, but officials on both sides warn that relations remain fragile — a factor that could delay construction or require added security measures along any transit link.

Regional trade analysts said the corridor could reshape how Central Asian states reach global markets if the political hurdles are cleared. “A land bridge to Pakistani ports would shorten transit times and likely lower freight costs for many exporters,” said a Karachi-based economist who studies Eurasian logistics. He added that a mix of sovereign and private financing, plus guarantees from regional powers, would probably be needed to move the project from drawing board to delivery.

For now, the plan remains preliminary. Uzbek authorities say the next milestones are completion of the technical study and a clearer picture of the investment package and participating countries. Officials urged neighboring governments to coordinate closely so that work, if approved, can proceed without long delays.