Russia and Pakistan to launch first direct train next year
Russia and Pakistan are set to be linked by a new freight train line as bilateral talks expand, Islamabad’s Energy Minister Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari has stated in an interview with RT.
Pakistan’s ambassador to Moscow, Muhammad Khalid Jamali, first expressed his country’s readiness to join the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a 7,200 km-long route connecting Russia and Central Asia with India via Iran, at this summer’s International IT Forum in Khanty-Mansiysk.
“As early as March next year, the first south-north train trial run will transport goods from Russia to Pakistan via Iran and Azerbaijan,” Leghari relayed.
In the interview, Leghari also mentioned ongoing talks between Moscow and Islamabad regarding the establishment of direct air service between the two countries, highlighting “interest from both sides” to establish airline connectivity “very soon.”
Bilateral transport and logistics projects were discussed between the countries in October during the visit of a delegation from Russia’s Federation Council to Islamabad. Chairwoman Valentina Matvienko emphasized the importance of new logistics corridors and welcomed Pakistan’s interest in this project.
“It has both political and economic dimensions that Pakistan and Russia haven’t seen for a while,” Leghari asserted. The minister stressed the significance of several initiatives being discussed by the two governments, as they “make it easier for our people to interact, and for businesses to flourish and communicate.”
On Wednesday, Islamabad and Moscow signed eight memorandums of understanding covering various sectors, including health, trade, industrial cooperation, and education. These agreements were reached during the meeting of the Inter-Governmental Commission, which was established about a decade ago.
Both Islamabad and Moscow have previously expressed their commitment to expanding cooperation, particularly in trade. Russia’s ambassador to Pakistan indicated in January that “bilateral trade is showing positive dynamics.” Trade turnover between the two nations stands at approximately $1 billion.
However, Leghari noted that “there is a trade imbalance between Russia and Pakistan, and a serious one.”
“We’re wanting to also work towards an environment where the balance is more balanced,” he told RT, noting that Pakistan, as a large producer of agricultural commodities, could be an important provider of food to Russia.
Pakistan has also proposed that Russia participate in oil and gas exploration on its shelf, as well as in oil refining, according to Moscow’s Deputy Energy Minister Roman Marshavin. “Stable supplies of Russian oil to Pakistan are ongoing, and all technical and financial issues are being promptly resolved by both sides,” he said, adding that work is underway to increase these supplies and diversify the range of products.
