The Termez dialogue to strengthen ties between Central and South Asia

By Fariza Kalimurzina
May 20, 2025 12:29 Updated 24d ago
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Independent News Pakistan

Termez, the southern gateway to Uzbekistan, has made history by hosting the first-ever Termez Dialogue, focusing on the growing connections between Central and South Asia.

Over 200 representatives from foreign ministries, along with heads of international and regional organizations, gathered for this large-scale forum. For more, here’s with the details.
 
As-live: South Asia is currently the fastest-growing region in the world. In 2024, its total GDP hit $4.9 trillion, making up 4.5% of the global economy. But despite this growth, trade and economic ties between Central and South Asia are still relatively low, with only about $5 billion in trade. For comparison, Central Asia’s trade with the European Union is over 55 billion dollars. These numbers show just how much potential there is for greater cooperation, even if it has not been fully realized yet.
 
To take cooperation to the next level, forum participants proposed several measures: streamlining customs and logistics, expanding transport corridors, modernizing energy infrastructure, and speeding up the use of digital solutions.
 
A key focus was the Trans-Afghan Transport Corridor project, which will connect Central Asia to the ports of the Indian Ocean via the shortest route through Afghanistan and Pakistan. This will not only give landlocked Central Asian countries access to global trade but also integrate them into international supply chains. Traffic along this route has already more than doubled: from 1.8 million tons in 2021 to 4 million tons in 2024, with Uzbekistan playing a central role in the transit.
 
The choice of Termez as the forum venue is no accident. Located at the crossroads of Central and South Asia, Termez has long been a hub for regional connections and a center for cultural, civilizational, and religious dialogue. People from Pakistan and Afghanistan can now stay in the city for up to 15 days without a visa, helping to boost trade and exports from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other countries in the region.
 
Experts believe that the Termez Dialogue is more than just a one-time event. The forum is expected to lead to a joint communique, signaling the commitment of both Central and South Asian countries to build trust, expand trade, and tackle shared challenges together. This document could become a roadmap for future actions, from regular expert meetings to tracking the progress of key infrastructure projects.

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