CONNECTIVITY OF CHINESE RAILWAYS IN CENTRAL ASIA AND ITS FUTURE

Abstract

The article explores the current state and future scenario of the Chinese railway lines routes through Central Asia and Afghanistan taking into account the Taliban regime. Since ancient times, Central Asia has been a crossroad of trade routes, which in modern times largest geopolitical actors are trying to revive. The concept of the Silk Road, which a few decades ago lived only on the pages of history textbooks, firmly settled on the front pages of newspapers, in analytical reports and development strategies of the states of Central Asia. However, times have changed, and the countries of Central Asia are trying to work hard to get access to the seas. And the railways are of paramount importance in this process. Trading via railways is vital for landlocked Central Asian states and in its turn, the competition is high among them to negotiate with Beijing to invest in the project. Furthermore, China and Uzbekistan have a chance to deal with the railway extension to Pakistan and Iran through Afghanistan by negotiating with the Taliban administration.