Now Reading: Russia proposes railway to India via Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan
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Russia proposes railway to India via Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan
Russia proposes railway to India via Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin has said Moscow must explore a direct rail link to the Indian Ocean, potentially through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.…
The Story in Brief
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin has said Moscow must explore a direct rail link to the Indian Ocean, potentially through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. The proposal comes after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and Iran's subsequent blockade of the strait against vessels from those nations and their allies. The chokepoint handles about 25 per cent of global oil trade. Khusnullin, quoted by TASS via republicworld.com, said any route giving access to India is acceptable. The rail link would enable overland freight between Russia and India for the first time.
The Indian Opinion
The proposed rail link to India sounds bold, but it risks being a cartographic fantasy. Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran are not stable transit corridors. The Strait of Hormuz blockade may be temporary, but the political and security hurdles along this route are permanent until proven otherwise. The real test will be whether Moscow can secure even a single feasibility study from all four transit nations, especially India and Pakistan, who have no direct rail connection today.
Source: republicworld.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
