By Faisal Javaid
The signing of a protocol to enhance bilateral trade between Pakistan and Uzbekistan to USD 2 billion within the next five years marks an important milestone. However, the broader significance of this development lies beyond trade figures. Concluded during the recent state visit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Islamabad, the agreement reflects a recalibration of bilateral relations toward a comprehensive, connectivity-led partnership encompassing transport, security cooperation, people-to-people ties, and regional integration.
Historically, Pakistan–Uzbekistan relations have been characterised by strong political goodwill but limited depth in practical cooperation. Structural constraints- including geography, underdeveloped transit infrastructure, weak financial linkages, and regional instability-restricted the relationship from achieving its full potential. In particular, instability linked to Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions over the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has complicated the realisation of regional connectivity projects. The establishment of a Joint Working Group tasked with developing a five-year, sector-specific roadmap therefore represents a deliberate effort to institutionalise cooperation and ensure sustained policy follow-through.
From a regional connectivity perspective, Uzbekistan’s engagement with Pakistan is driven by strategic necessity. As a landlocked state, Uzbekistan’s long-term economic resilience depends on diversified and reliable access to international markets. While northern routes remain important, they have become increasingly exposed to geopolitical disruptions. Southern connectivity through Pakistan offers a viable alternative, positioning Pakistani ports- Karachi, Gwadar, and Port Qasim- as gateways not only for Uzbekistan but for wider Central Asia.
For Pakistan, Uzbekistan occupies a central position in its evolving geo-economic outlook. Islamabad’s regional strategy increasingly prioritises its role as a transit and logistics hub linking Central and South Asia. In this context, the expansion of the Preferential Trade Agreement, the establishment of the Pakistan–Uzbekistan Interregional Forum, and plans to convene the first Forum of Regions in Uzbekistan in 2026 reflect a concerted effort to institutionalise bilateral and sub-national economic cooperation.
Connectivity discussions during the visit centred on the Trans-Afghan Railway, particularly the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project, with endorsement of the Termez-Kharlachi route. From an expert standpoint, this railway is not merely an infrastructure project but a strategic corridor capable of reshaping regional trade patterns. However, both sides demonstrated realism in recognising that infrastructure alone cannot deliver integration without security, regulatory harmonisation, and predictable transit regimes. In this regard, private-sector participation and multilateral risk guarantees are essential for the project’s commercial viability.
At the same time, Pakistan and Uzbekistan appear increasingly aware of the need for connectivity diversification. Uzbekistan’s potential inclusion in the Quadrilateral Transit Trade Agreement (QTTA) offers a complementary pathway that can partially mitigate risks associated with overreliance on Afghan transit, while enhancing predictability and resilience in regional trade flows.
Equally significant is the broader North–South connectivity vision linking Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. This emerging corridor carries strategic importance for Eurasian actors, including Russia, by connecting continental markets with South Asian and maritime trade routes. Pakistan’s role as the southern anchor of this corridor enhances its strategic relevance, while Uzbekistan’s central position reinforces its profile as a regional connectivity facilitator.
Crucially, both leaders underlined that peace and stability in Afghanistan are indispensable for the success of regional connectivity initiatives. They explicitly linked the sustainability of connectivity projects to Afghanistan’s responsibility to prevent the use of its territory for terrorism, particularly in light of Pakistan’s security concerns related to the TTP. This articulation reflects an emerging regional consensus that economic corridors cannot function in an environment of persistent cross-border insecurity.
Beyond infrastructure and trade, the visit underscored the multidimensional nature of bilateral cooperation. A total of 28 agreements and Memoranda of Understanding were concluded across trade, defence, information technology, climate change, agriculture, mining, education, and maritime cooperation, reflecting an effort to anchor connectivity within a broader economic, technological, and institutional framework.
The visit also placed renewed emphasis on people-to-people connectivity. Academic cooperation, cultural exchanges, and student mobility were highlighted as long-term investments in bilateral trust. Following the conferral of an honorary PhD degree and the title of professorship by a Pakistani public-sector university, President Prof. Dr. Mirziyoyev symbolised the growing educational and intellectual dimension of Pakistan-Uzbekistan relations.
President Prof. Dr. Mirziyoyev has played a notably active role in advancing regional connectivity across Central and South Asia. Under his leadership, Uzbekistan has emerged as one of the most proactive Central Asian states in promoting dialogue, economic openness, and regional integration. His sustained engagement with Pakistan reflects a pragmatic vision that views connectivity and cooperation as instruments of stability rather than competition.
Despite the positive momentum, challenges remain. Banking and settlement mechanisms between Pakistan and Uzbekistan are limited, logistics costs remain high, and trade baskets lack diversification. Connectivity ambitions will yield tangible outcomes only if supported by strengthened financial channels, customs digitalisation, liberalised visa regimes, enhanced business mobility, and the effective implementation of existing agreements in their true spirit.
The Pakistan-Uzbekistan partnership is thus entering a new phase defined not only by trade expansion but by a comprehensive bilateral and regional connectivity agenda encompassing transport corridors, security cooperation, people-to-people linkages, and institutional coordination. If implementation proceeds in earnest and regional engagement remains pragmatic, this partnership has the potential to contribute meaningfully to a more connected, stable, and economically integrated Eurasian landscape.
The writer is the author of Bridging Horizons: Unraveling the Enigma of Connectivity Between Pakistan and Central Asia and Head of the Department of International Relations & Mass Communication at Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology, Islamabad.
