Where There’s A Will, There’s A Rail-Way:  An ‘Impressed’ Uzbek President To Invite India To Build Rail Link Through Afghanistan

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, during his official visit to India next week, may invite India to help it with an important rail link in Afghanistan, The Hindu has reported.

The Uzbek President is expected to arrive India on Sunday and will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and Uzbekistan’s President had last year agreed on building a rail link having an estimated length of 650 km connecting Afghan cities of Herat and Mazaar-e-Sharif with a possible future extension to Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan.

“We support a greater presence of India in Central Asia, and hope for some benefits of that for Afghanistan. I hope that negotiations with PM Modi will open a new page in our bilateral relations,” Ilhom Nematov, Special Assistant for Foreign Affairs of the Uzbek President, said.

“If India would be involved in construction, we would welcome them because of India’s proven record and experience, and because of its contribution to bringing peace to Afghanistan,” he added.

India’s presence in building infrastructure in Afghanistan is significant, with many projects having been completed and many in progress. The rail link project, if India agrees to help execute, could be another feather in its cap after its construction of Afghanistan’s Zaranj-Deralam Highway and Shahid Beheshti port in Chabahar, Iran.

The proposed rail link, if extended to Kabul, would be a great move in terms of India’s trade, as with the rail link, the time period of exporting and importing various commodities will be shortened.

According to officials, during the bilateral talks between the Indian PM and the Uzbek President, more than 30 documents pertaining to trade, media and educational partnerships may be signed.