Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov met late Thursday with Acting Interior Minister of Afghanistan, Sirajuddin Haqqani, along with senior officials from the Afghan Interior Ministry, to discuss the Trans-Afghan Railway Project and broader bilateral relations.

According to a statement from the Afghan Ministry of Interior, the meeting focused on advancing regional connectivity through the ambitious railway initiative, which aims to link Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

The discussion followed the signing of a trilateral agreement earlier this week by transport and railway officials from the three nations to initiate the project’s feasibility study.

Saidov provided updates on recent developments related to the railway project and expressed satisfaction with the momentum gained. He highlighted that trade between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan had nearly tripled over the past year, underscoring growing economic cooperation between the neighboring countries.

The expansion of ties among Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan, along with increased political, economic, and cultural collaboration, is a promising sign for the entire region, Saidov said.

He also reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s support for the unfreezing of Afghan financial assets, the resolution of refugee issues, and the inclusion of Afghanistan in regional and international platforms.

Haqqani welcomed the Uzbek delegation and praised the “spirit of goodwill, constructive cooperation, and brotherhood” shown by Uzbekistan. He noted the strategic importance of the railway project and emphasized its potential to drive economic growth across the region.

We view this project not only as a transit corridor, but as a symbol of shared prosperity, Haqqani said, adding that Afghanistan remains committed to strengthening its political, economic, and cultural ties with Uzbekistan.”

The Trans-Afghan Railway Project, first proposed in 2018, is a key element in Uzbekistan’s broader push to become a regional transit hub. If completed, the railway would reduce cargo transit times between Central Asia and South Asia by several days and provide landlocked Uzbekistan with direct access to Pakistani seaports via Afghanistan.