Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan Explore Potential Transport Corridor to India and West Asia

Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, along with Afghanistan, have agreed to strengthen transit and transport infrastructure in Afghanistan, potentially opening a new corridor connecting Central Asia with India and West Asia. This was decided during a trilateral meeting in Kabul last week between Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin, Director General of the Transport and Communications Agency under Turkmenistan’s Cabinet of Ministers Mammetkhan Chakyev, and Afghan Minister of Commerce and Industry Nooruddin Azizi.

During the meeting, Zhumangarin emphasized the importance of recalculating and reorienting traffic flows to support infrastructure development. The discussions also revolved around connecting with India, possibly through Iran's Chabahar Port, which offers a strategic link to the Indian subcontinent.

"All this will help develop the Turkmen infrastructure and ours at Beineu-Aktau-Bolashak," Zhumangarin stated, referencing the proposed corridor's impact on regional connectivity.

The meeting highlighted that the eastern branch of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) could serve as a major route for transporting goods from Russia and Belarus through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, India, and West Asia. The INSTC has gained new momentum as a crucial conduit for trade and transport in the region.

Following their discussions, the three nations agreed to establish a working group to implement the outcomes of their meeting and move forward with the corridor's development.

The Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan route is a key part of the INSTC, and its expansion could significantly enhance trade links between Central Asia, South Asia, and West Asia, further integrating regional economies and fostering international trade partnerships.

ET