Central Asia Eyes China-Linked Trade Routes to Pakistan

Tashkent and Islamabad are nearing a provisional agreement to formalize trade routes through China, providing a safety net against the frequent border closures that have paralyzed trans-Afghan logistics. Although a direct rail link through Kyrgyzstan and China remains under construction, the pending protocol focuses on immediate, truck-borne trade. This pivot reflects a broader regional trend, as Kyrgyzstan successfully tested a similar overland route earlier this year and moved to deepen its strategic partnership with Pakistan in July.

The search for alternatives highlights the fragility of the trans-Afghan transit vision. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev remains committed to the goal of tripling bilateral trade with Afghanistan, yet the recurring closure of land crossings has rendered the route unreliable. By integrating into China’s established rail and road network, Central Asian nations aim to secure a consistent flow of goods to the Arabian Sea, shielding their export economies from the unpredictable security landscape currently defining Afghan-Pakistani relations.