Kazakhstan seeks Indian Ocean access through Afghanistan

Photo: Unsplash.com, photo editor: Adelina Mamedova

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport said it is working on implementing a joint project with Afghanistan to build the Turgundi-Herat-Kandahar-Spin Boldak railway, which is set to ensure goods delivery from Central Asia to the ports of Pakistan.

The cabinet held a session with an interagency working group on developing cooperation with Afghanistan. Its task is to develop transport corridors and trade, economic, and humanitarian cooperation with the country.

One of the key projects is the construction of the Turgundi-Herat-Kandahar-Spin Boldak railway through Afghan territory, which is set to connect a city on the Turkmenistani border with a city on the Pakistani border. The route plays an important role for Kazakhstan’s trade, as it provides access to the ports of the Indian Ocean.

The new railway line is expected to become a key part of a future transnational corridor passing through Afghanistan, providing the shortest route for southbound cargo transport.

Vice Minister of Transport Zhanibek Taizhanov said that the project is being implemented on schedule.

«The Kazakh side has prepared a draft trilateral memorandum and submitted it to the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, which is scheduled to be signed in February. A separate memorandum with Pakistan’s Ministry of Railways is also under consideration, with the Pakistani side expressing support for the proposed route,» the statement read.

The agreement for Kazakhstan to participate in the project was reached in April 2025, during Kazakhstan’s Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin’s visit to Kabul.

The signed protocol provides for a potential joint venture between the rail operators of Kazakhstan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, operating under the jurisdiction of the Astana International Financial Centre.