NOTE: (Road logistics — the movement of goods by road — is one of the missing links in Pakistan’s economic chain. It is a vital component that can connect Pakistan to Central Asia through road and rail networks, and further on to Europe, or via Iran to Turkey and beyond. Every stretch of land in this grand plan holds its own strategic importance.

Muhammad Anwar belongs to the world of logistics — a world that views every piece of land as a crossing point, linking one region to another and turning distances into opportunities.

TW News is publishing this article to better understand and highlight this very vision.)

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The upcoming Istanbul talks on November 6th have renewed cautious optimism about regional connectivity. For the first time in years, there is acknowledgment that Afghanistan’s stability is not just a national issue — it is central to the economic future of the entire region.

While diplomatic efforts continue, the region’s trade map is already changing. Alternative corridors through Iran (via Chabahar and Bandar Abbas), China’s Belt and Road routes, and the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) are gaining momentum. If Afghanistan remains uncertain and insecure, it risks being permanently bypassed by the very trade flows that could have made it prosperous.

Afghanistan’s Missed Geography Dividend

Geographically, Afghanistan is ideally positioned to connect Central Asia’s energy and raw materials with South Asia’s consumer markets through Pakistan’s ports of Gwadar and Karachi.
Projects like the Trans-Afghan Railway, TAPI gas pipeline, and CASA-1000 electricity network were designed to make this corridor the backbone of regional trade and energy exchange.

If operational, these projects could have generated billions in revenue and created thousands of jobs across Afghanistan. The country would earn from transit fees, warehousing, customs, logistics, and infrastructure investment, while benefiting from access to cheaper electricity and natural gas.

Afghanistan could also have leveraged this connectivity to export agricultural produce, minerals, and handicrafts to regional markets — gradually building a diversified, trade-driven economy.

Reality: Trade Moves Where It Feels Safe

However, trade does not wait for political promises — it follows security and predictability.
Persistent instability, internal divisions, and lack of governance have kept Afghanistan from becoming a reliable corridor. Investors, shipping firms, and insurers have already begun redirecting business through more stable alternatives:

Iran’s Chabahar Port provides India and Central Asia a route that avoids Afghan territory.

The INSTC links Central Asia and Russia to South Asia via Iran and the Caucasus.

China’s CPEC extension offers Central Asia access to the Arabian Sea through secure Chinese-managed infrastructure.

Every kilometer of new road or railway outside Afghanistan reduces its importance in future regional trade calculations.

Trade Is the Real Diplomacy

Diplomatic goodwill can open doors, but only consistent trade activity keeps them open.
In regional politics, trade is stronger than treaties — it creates shared interests, trust, and economic interdependence.
If Afghanistan fails to provide a safe and transparent environment for commerce, it will lose not just revenue, but also political influence in shaping future trade rules and energy linkages.

The Istanbul Opportunity

The November 6th Istanbul talks are an opportunity for Afghanistan to reassert its relevance in the regional economy.
If Kabul and its partners can agree on a verifiable framework that guarantees safe transit, border coordination, and protection for foreign investments, it would immediately rebuild confidence among regional players.

But if the talks again produce only declarations without enforceable mechanisms, Afghanistan will remain a red light in an otherwise expanding network of green corridors.

Conclusion: The Window Is Closing

Afghanistan’s geography gave it a natural advantage, but geography alone no longer guarantees opportunity. The region is moving ahead with alternative routes that offer reliability and security — the two factors global trade values most.

The choice now lies with Afghanistan:

It can become a partner in prosperity, connecting Central and South Asia and earning from every ton of trade that passes through.

Or it can continue to stand isolated, watching the region grow around it.

The world will not wait indefinitely. If Afghanistan cannot turn its red light into a green one soon, the next generation of trade routes will simply pass it by — leaving it not at the crossroads of Asia, but outside the map of progress.
Muhammd Anwar,CMILt