Zaman Bajwa
The Republic of Kazakhstan has opened doors for the expansion of trade with Pakistan that will further connect them to the global market and unlock opportunities for both. Kazakhstan, a significant linchpin of China’s BRI borders Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan to the South, China to the East, and Russia to the North.
This Central Asian Republican state is also bounded by the Caspian Sea on its one side. From a geopolitical lens, the strategic position of Kazakhstan is pertinent as it offers key opportunities in the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, strengthening its regional trade and energy transportation.
This transport route has modeled and positioned Kazakhstan as a critical hub in the international logistics network by connecting Asia and Europe In the same vein, Pakistan highly benefits from its strategic location on an world map. At the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East, it significantly upheaves its trade, connectivity, and geopolitical standing.
This South-Asian country is bordered by China, India, Afghanistan, and Iran and to the south by the Arabian Sea. Recognizing this strategic advantage, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor provides Pakistan with a platform to build on its national economy and regional connections. Pakistan and Kazakhstan have been actively working on improving their trade routes and enhancing regional connectivity through numerous projects which will be discussed in this article along with the possible challenges that are faced by Pakistan and Kazakhstan in making this transit trade route into a reality. Pakistan and Kazakhstan have revived the legacy of the ancient Silk Route.
By re- establishing trade through this route, Pakistan transported its first cargo across the Silk Route to Kazakhstan. This was made feasible by operationalizing the Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Agreement between Pakistan, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. It is anticipated that this new route would greatly cut trade xpenses and times, enhancing trade relations between the two countries. In addition, in order to promote easier economic exchanges between the two countries, Kazakhstan has declared the commencement of direct flights to Pakistan which will be resuming after Ramadan.
Exploring new corridors between these countries, it is beyond belief that there is no direct train service between Pakistan and Kazakhstan in the 21 st century.
However, Kazakhstan is actively exploring the potential of transit corridors through Pakistan. It is now being considered if multimodal transit might be provided along the Kazakhstan – Turkmenistan – Afghanistan – Pakistan route to facilitate the efficient flow of products and services, this suggested route aims to maximize the utilization of currently available corridors.Indeed, both Pakistan and Kazakhstan are keen on expanding their trade relations. Building routes through venturing into Afghanistan, offering the shortest route to the ports of Gwadar and Karachi in Pakistan, and enhancing connection to India, the Middle East, and Africa are all part of Kazakhstan strategic goal. This knight’s move across the Asian chessboard will not only benefit Kazakhstan but also it will open doors for regional connectivity and economic cooperation. Additionally, Kazakhstan’s aim to construct the Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway transport corridor, an idea proposed in 2018 in Tashkent is now back on track. The goal of this corridor is to make it easier for Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East to establish trade with one another. The idea of establishing safe and secure transit between both countries is now achievable as Kazakhstan has started to work with the «National Logistics Corporation» and «Tranzum Courier Services» a major government and private logistic companies in Pakistan transportation industry, which is an important milestone. This cooperation guarantees the swift and safe passage of products via Afghanistan from Pakistan to Kazakhstan and vice versa. Kazakhstan dedication to facilitating safe and effective cargo movement throughout the region is demonstrated by this arrangement. Although there are several initiatives and a shared desire to improve regional connectivity between Pakistan and Kazakhstan, a number of obstacles have impeded development. There have been several challenges, including regional rivalry and Afghanistan's unstable security environment. The dream to lay the foundations of regional connectivity is not possible without Afghanistan’s inclusion. The instability in Afghanistan can trigger instability not only within Pakistan but also throughout the region. Another point to ponder is that the domino effect results in the rise of extremist activities of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan along the Pakistan border in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, this security environment is also holding back partner states from establishing trade and projects with Pakistan. Therefore, it is essential to bring peace in Afghanistan so that joint ventures between Pakistan- Afghanistan and Kazakhstan can contribute to flourishing trade and promote cooperation. Not to miss, financial limitations have also contributed significantly to slowing down the future projects. The lack of resources required for these projects becomes another challenge for both countries. To break this vicious cycle of challenges in the face of regional connectivity, Pakistan and Kazakhstan should prioritize enhancing infrastructure, streamlining trade laws, and encouraging cross-cultural and cross-economic interactions. Encouraging cultural and economic interactions can improve bilateral ties and create opportunities for greater regional connectedness. In a nutshell, Kazakhstan has demonstrated its dedication to bringing ideas to life through the establishment of effective transit networks through its pioneering efforts.
For all the regional states, Kazakhstan is opening doors for regional connectivity, these transit corridors are expected to boost trade prospects, promote regional collaboration, and spur economic progress. Notwithstanding the obstacles still present, overcoming them and achieving the desired goals can help future regional trade and connectivity to flourish.
