# Russia proposes rail link to India via Iran, Pakistan 2026-08-09T18:47:57+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin has proposed building a railway line to the Indian Ocean that could connect Russia and India via Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. In an interview with state news agency TASS on Thursday, Khusnullin said the route would reduce Russia's dependence on strategically sensitive sea lanes like the Hormuz Strait and the Bosphorus, which have been affected by conflict in West Asia. He said any option giving access to India is acceptable. The proposal comes as Russia faces Western pressure over its energy exports. The US Senate on July 29 advanced a bill that could impose heavy tariffs on countries including India that continue buying Russian oil and gas. The proposed railway could also have broader geopolitical implications by giving Russia an alternative land route to the Indian Ocean. ## Coverage - aajtak.in Tags: energy sanctions, geopolitics, Hormuz Strait, India, rail corridor, Russia Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/russia-proposes-rail-link-to-india-via-iran-pakistan/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/russia-proposes-rail-link-to-india-via-iran-pakistan/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.