Ishaq Dar to Visit Kabul for Railway Project Agreement

The Foreign Office announced on Thursday that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is scheduled to visit Kabul for a one-day trip. The purpose of the visit is to sign the Framework Agreement concerning the Joint Feasibility Study for the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project.

According to the FO statement, the UAP Railway Project is designed to establish a rail connection between Uzbekistan and Pakistan through Afghanistan. This connection aims to provide Central Asian countries with access to Pakistani seaports.

The statement further noted that the project is anticipated to foster regional stability, economic advancement, and overall development by facilitating trade and transit within the region.

FM Dar will be accompanied by a high-ranking delegation that includes the minister for railways, the special representative for Afghanistan, and the secretary. This visit highlights the significance Islamabad places on the successful implementation of the UAP Railway Project.

The foreign ministry stated that the signing of this Framework Agreement in Kabul among the three participating nations represents a crucial stride toward the project’s execution.

During his stay, the foreign minister is also slated to meet with Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister and pay a visit to the acting prime minister. These meetings will serve as opportunities to address bilateral issues and exchange perspectives on both regional and global matters.

In related news, this past May, Pakistan declared its intention to elevate its Chargé d’Affaires in Afghanistan to the rank of ambassador, reflecting improved relations with the neighboring nation.

Earlier in the month, Islamabad and Kabul, during the first round of discussions at the additional secretary level between their respective foreign ministries, concurred on collaborative efforts to enhance the regulated movement of people across their shared borders.

The two nations addressed vital areas of mutual interest, encompassing trade and transit cooperation, security matters, and connectivity, while acknowledging terrorism as a significant threat to peace and security in the region.