Tooba Altar
Connectivity is the key to sustainable development and it is very hard to imagine progress of a country/region without including the connectivity factor in the equation of its economic growth. Connectivity in the present age has assumed great significance for keeping the economic wheel rolling.
Historical conflicts have left many third world countries economically backward. However, recently, there has been a significant shift from global to regional connectivity under President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative. Other countries seem to be learning from that.
The recently launched rail link inaugurated between Afghanistan and Iran is also a project of regional connectivity, called as ‘historic’ by Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani. President Ashraf Ghani called it a ‘precious gift from Iran’ to Afghans. The railway line runs from Iran’s Khorasan province into Herat, Afghanistan’s. This development coincides with the announcement of the Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad (ITI) railway line’s operationalization, under the framework of ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization), in 2021.
The Iran – Afghanistan rail project which started in 2007, under Iran’s development assistance to Afghanistan, can transport one million passengers and six million tons of goods a year. A test freight train transported 500 tons of cement between Khorasan’s Khaf station and Herat’s Rahzanak station. The railroad offers a crucial transport link for the landlocked Afghanistan, where decades of war have hindered infrastructural development. It is expected to help Afghanistan diversify its trade routes and integrate into the region.
A successful trial run for 6,500 kms ITI railway had already been conducted in the past, and upon full commissioning it would curtailing the distance between the three countries to under 12 days. It would be both cost and time effective, reducing the 45 days long journey taken by the seaway transportation of goods from Europe to Pakistan.
Besides, Pakistan, Turkey and Iran, Afghanistan is also an ECO member along with several Central Asian Republics. The extension of the ITI and Iran – Afghanistan rail route to the Central Asian States, and the inclusion of the former, into ECO’s framework, would tightly knit these states.
The recently signed joint letter among Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, on trilateral railway project offers yet another opportunity for Central Asia. It would also help revitalize ECO as well.
Iran which already has railroad links with its neighbors such as Pakistan, Turkey, and Turkmenistan, can transform into a regional transport hub. These rail networks place Iran at the juncture of regional connectivity and promoting people to people exchanges and boosting trade.
Moreover, the talks for China – Central Asia – West Asia Economic Corridor (CCWAEC), are also underway, integrating these rail networks into broader framework of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), resulting in interconnectedness for the greater bloc. Pakistan and Iran at the center of these networks can play a vital role for the revival of ancient Silk Road, traversing all the way from Asia to Europe.
Besides, Pakistan via CPEC, can extensively benefit a lot in terms of regional connectivity through these developing networks. On one hand, Pakistan already possess rail link with Iran. On the other, it has started carrying out Afghanistan’s transit trade through Gwadar as well. Thus, Pakistan is best positioned to obtain advantages from both CPEC and CCWAEC, and facilitate both in return; a win-win situation.
It is yet to be seen how these ventures unfold on the ground. The real challenge in these connectivity projects in not to kick-start these, but to sustain and make these grow further beyond current domains. For now, it augurs well and reflects the visionary thinking for our region – the one which often comes last in the race for development. Yet, we should be optimistic; better late than never.
Tooba Altaf is an International Relations graduate, while working as a Researcher at the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad.
