Chaman-Kandahar rail link: go-ahead signal from Afghanistan still awaited

Pakistan is desperately looking for a go-ahead signal from the Afghanistan government for the construction of Chaman-Kandahar rail link to get comparatively less expensive access to the Central Asian markets. Sources in the Railways Ministry told Business Recorder here on Wednesday that Islamabad has raised the issue during the visit of Afghan Transport Minister Enayatullah Qasemi to Pakistan last week.
The governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan had agreed to lay railway track of about 103km Chaman to Kandahar that would further be extended to other Central Asian States.
It was learnt that the government has completed initial feasibility report of the railway track between Chaman to Spin Boldak. The track would be laid down up to Kandahar.
"We have made all the preliminary arrangements, but No Objection Certificate is still awaited from the Afghan government to move ahead," the sources said.
The government has conveyed its reservations to the visiting Afghan minister regarding delay in issuing NOC for the most important link to enhance trade between these two neighbouring countries, the sources said.
They added Pakistan Railways would construct 10-12km railway track from Quetta to Afghan border. The track from Afghan border to Kandahar is the responsibility of the Afghan government.
The government is also awaiting Afghan government's response to undertake study from extension of railway track from Kandahar to Khushka, which will provide access to Pakistan to the Central Asian markets.
Meanwhile, it was reliably learnt that the Afghan minister has assured full support to Pakistan government in this regard. The Afghan minister had promised to get all necessary approvals from Karzai-led government as early as possible.
Afghanistan - a war ravaged country - has very dilapidated infrastructure. However, vast railway network exists in all the Central Asian States, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Pakistan direly needs access to these flourishing markets.
The Afghan minister after conclusion of his visit was also reported as saying in Afghanistan that he and Pakistani railway authorities had discussed laying of a rail track between the neighbours to facilitate the movement of people and goods.