On May 13, Special Assistant to the Pakistani Prime Minister Talha Burki expressed Pakistan’s interest in integrating its PRC-operated Gwadar port into the Russia-backed International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC). Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk confirmed ongoing talks with Islamabad regarding various connectivity options, including railway links, to connect Gwadar with the 7,200-kilometer INSTC.
This initiative aims to position Pakistan as a key crossroads between the INSTC and China's One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, specifically the $62 billion China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), enhancing regional integration across Eurasia. Pakistan seeks overland access to Russia, Central Asia, and Europe, while landlocked Central Asian countries could gain access to warm-water ports. This push occurs amidst uncertainty surrounding Iran’s Chabahar port, where India operates a terminal as its gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia, viewing it as a counterweight to Gwadar. Gwadar, located 624 nautical kilometers east of the Strait of Hormuz, offers stable global shipping lines and could contribute up to $25 billion to Pakistan's economy. Russia and Pakistan have also improved bilateral relations, discussing freight train lines and direct air service.
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