BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 20. Active work is underway in the Asian region to extend the "Trans-Afghan Railway Line," which may connect with the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, or Middle Corridor), the Chairman of the Board of Azerbaijan Railways, Rovshan Rustamov, said in a statement, Trend reports.
The chairman made the statement following the Baku consultations on the upcoming establishment of the international association "Eurasian Transport Route".
"Next week, a ceremony will mark the laying of the railway section from Uzbekistan to Tajikistan and onward to Pakistan and Afghanistan. Kazakhstan is also involved in the Trans-Afghan Corridor alongside Pakistan and Afghanistan. Both Afghanistan and Pakistan are interested in joining the Middle Corridor to facilitate cargo shipments to European markets. Thus, integration is possible, and these countries are expected to be invited to the newly formed Association," Rustamov said.
He believes that attracting cargo to the Middle Corridor from this eastern transport direction could boost freight volumes on the TITR, increasing its capacity to 10-15 million tons per year.
The chairman also discussed the expansion of the international "North-South" railway corridor, emphasizing Azerbaijan's strategic position at the "heart" of these international routes.
"Therefore, the proposal is under discussion for the permanent secretariat of the International Association 'Eurasian Transport Route' to be based in Baku," Rustamov added.