While the EU and China are still trying to determine whether they compete or cooperate in developing Central Asia’s transport corridors, the Russian Federation is actively strengthening ties with Afghanistan and seeking to secure that very “key to India.” This is reflected in the deepening contacts between Moscow and Kabul. For example, the Taliban movement has appealed to Russia to repair Soviet-era roads on Afghan territory.

In today’s conditions, Afghanistan is transforming into a new “heartland” of Eurasian infrastructure hubs, capable of linking the transport and energy systems of Central and South Asia, and the states driving this process can shape the regional agenda.

Illustration of Trans-Afghan corridor, which Uzbekistan promotes. Source

AFGHANISTAN VIEWS RUSSIA AS THE MAIN ACTOR IN ADVANCING TRANS-AFGHAN PROJECTS

Afghanistan’s Minister of Public Works, Muhammad Isa Sani, held talks with Russia’s Ambassador to Kabul, Dmitry Zhirnov. They discussed the reconstruction of the strategically important Salang Highway and the construction of a new mountain road tunnel, the “road of life”, connecting the country’s southern and northern regions via the Salang Pass (at about 4,200 meters elevation, originally built in 1958–1964). They also covered deliveries of Russian equipment, construction machinery, and materials (including bitumen and railway components). The Russian ambassador expressed readiness to cooperate, and the Taliban delegation plans a visit to Russia for further discussions on these initiatives.

In addition, Russia is participating in Central Asian trans-Afghan projects. In April of this year it became known that Russian and Uzbek design institutes are jointly preparing the feasibility study for a railway along agreed routes: Mazar-i-Sharif – Herat – Delaram – Kandahar – Chaman and Termez – Naibabad – Logar – Kharlachi. The study pays special attention to projected freight volumes and the assessment of the project’s economic efficiency.

Russia is considering joining an international consortium, participating in financing, and, if necessary, organizing construction using the Russian broad gauge. This could benefit Russian carriers and logistics operators.

RUSSIA ADVOCATES FOR DIVERSIFICATION OF ROUTES THROUGH AFGHANISTAN

Beyond Uzbekistan, active promotion of routes via Afghanistan is being carried out by Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Kazakhstan has expressed its willingness to collaborate with Turkmenistan and Afghanistan on building segments of the Afghan-direction railway (“Turgundi – Herat – Kandahar – Spin-Boldak”), providing materials and Kazakh-made engineering solutions.

This route is considered the western branch. In July 2024, Russia, Kazakhstan, Iran, and Turkmenistan signed a roadmap for developing this corridor, including use of the western branch of the trans-Afghan railway. Potentially, all parties involved will have to concentrate their resources on this single route. Given that earlier efforts focused on the eastern branch “Termez – Mazar-i-Sharif – Kabul – Peshawar,” stakeholders may now lean more heavily toward the western branch through Herat and Kandahar provinces.

In sum, Russia is effectively cementing its presence in Central Asia through trans-Afghan projects—both transport and energy, since the regional states could become a strategic transit hub linking Russia with South Asian countries and, potentially, with the Middle East and East Africa.