Russia is interested in building a railway through Afghanistan as part of efforts to expand transport links with countries in the Global South, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said.
Speaking to Russia 24 television, Overchuk said greater connectivity with southern markets would help diversify Russia’s transport and logistics routes. He said options for constructing a railway across Afghan territory are under discussion, with attention focused on both western and eastern corridors.
Overchuk added that Russian specialists are currently studying the feasibility of a railway through Afghanistan and are participating in related technical consultations.
The comments follow earlier statements by Denis Manturov, who said last year that Russia and Uzbekistan were jointly preparing a feasibility study for the proposed Trans-Afghan railway, with an emphasis on developing international transport corridors.
Subsequently, the transport ministers of Uzbekistan and Russia signed agreements to launch the development phase of the Trans-Afghan railway, which would extend to Pakistan.
Uzbekistan, which already has a direct rail connection with Afghanistan, has positioned itself as a regional logistics hub linking Russia, Central Asia and South Asia.
In November 2024, during a visit to Kabul, Overchuk told Taliban officials that Moscow wanted to participate in the Trans-Afghan railway project, describing it as a key initiative to improve connectivity across Central Asia and the wider Eurasian region.
