Web Desk: Uzbekistan is accelerating efforts to expand trade links with Pakistan through China while continuing to back plans for a trans-Afghan transport corridor, underscoring growing concern over the security and political risks disrupting regional trade through Afghanistan.
The strategy reflects Tashkent’s attempt to diversify its transit options as strained relations between Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities and Pakistan continue to complicate overland commerce.
Over the past year, Uzbekistan has deepened economic engagement with Afghanistan and set a goal of significantly increasing bilateral trade in the coming years. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to developing a trans-Afghan railway designed to provide Central Asian exports with faster access to Pakistani seaports.
However, Pakistani media reports indicate that Uzbekistan and Pakistan have reached a preliminary understanding to expand bilateral trade through routes crossing China instead of Afghanistan.
The proposed arrangement would provide exporters with an alternative transit corridor while uncertainty persists along the Afghan route.
A direct corridor through Afghanistan remains the shortest and most efficient land route connecting Central Asia with Pakistan. Yet repeated border closures and deteriorating relations between Islamabad and the Taliban administration have disrupted freight movement and weakened confidence in the corridor.
According to Pakistani media, both governments are preparing to sign a protocol aimed at formalizing expanded trade through China.
The agreement is expected to strengthen transit options and help maintain uninterrupted cargo movement despite evolving regional security challenges, Pakistani officials were quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China are jointly building a railway that will connect Central Asia to China’s rail network and eventually provide access to Pakistani ports.
The infrastructure project, however, remains several years from completion. Until then, any new trade arrangement between Uzbekistan and Pakistan is expected to rely primarily on road transport through China.
Uzbekistan is not alone in pursuing the China route.
Earlier this year, Kyrgyzstan successfully tested an overland trade corridor to Pakistan via China. In addition, Bishkek and Islamabad announced plans in early July to establish a broader strategic partnership, highlighting increasing regional interest in diversifying trade routes amid continued uncertainty surrounding Afghanistan.
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