Now Reading: Russia floats rail route to India via Iran, Afghanistan
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Russia floats rail route to India via Iran, Afghanistan
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin has proposed exploring a railway link from Russia to the Indian Ocean, potentially reaching India. The route, as per reports citing Russian news agency TASS, could…
The Story in Brief
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin has proposed exploring a railway link from Russia to the Indian Ocean, potentially reaching India. The route, as per reports citing Russian news agency TASS, could pass through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Khusnullin said any option providing access to India would be acceptable.
The proposal comes amid escalating maritime disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bosphorus. These chokepoints have become risky following armed hostilities involving the US, Israel, and Iran, including a blockade by Iran against vessels of allied nations. The Strait of Hormuz handles about 25% of global oil trade.
The Indian Opinion
Talk of a train to India sounds exciting, but the route faces massive hurdles: Afghanistan under Taliban rule, Iran under sanctions, and Pakistan’s strained ties with India. The narrative that this is a breakthrough alternative to sea lanes overlooks realpolitik. The real test is whether Russia can secure cooperation from all transit countries, and at what cost. Until feasibility studies and diplomatic clearances emerge, treat this as a geopolitical signal, not a near-term project.
Sources (3): indiatvnews.com, ndtv.com, hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
