With terrorism gaining an upper hand in the FATA region of Pakistan, NATO’s logistical and supply lines to Afghanistan have come under heavy fire literally. With the US planning to step up its troop presence in the landlocked country, there is an urgency to find alternative routes primarily to reduce dependence on a country, which till recently went by the tag -‘front line ally in the war against terror’
If Karachi in Pakistan is ruled out as the port of call for the supply vessels, they can land in Iranian ports. But given the state of US-Iran relations, the Chahbahar route is just a no, no. These limitations impart a new dimension to other alternatives, which would not have come into reckoning even a year back. Now, the land routes through Russia and Central Asia looks very promising. Only caveat is ‘some give and take’. Who gives what and who takes what has more or less been worked out and going by media reports, Russia is ready to cooperate with NATO by providing logistic support to the NATO supplies. Central Asian Republics have also shown their willingness now that Moscow is favorably disposed
ROUTE OPTIONS
Surface Transport Route that is being talked about is Moscow to Aktau on the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea.
Aktau is the locational point for the North-South International Transport Corridor. From Aktau to Almaty and then to Tashkent is a short hop. Once the supply convoys reach Tashkent they can drive down to Termez and cross the Friendship Bridge to enter Naibabad in northern Afghanistan. Mazar-i-Sharif is close to Naibabad.
It is also possible to go make use of the Almaty – Bishkek – OshTajikistan). This highway built during the Soviet days. It facilitated the supplies to the Russian arms supplies to the Northern Alliance during the war against the Taliban rule from Kabul. (Southern Kyrgyzstan) – Korog (
Recently, with the assistance of the ADB a new route from Osh to Murgab has been constructed. It shortened the distance between Osh and Dushanbe. Murgab to Dushanbe is largely dirt road and partly metalled one.
There is another route to reach Heart faster in particular. It makes use of Russian built container terminals at Olya and Makhach- Akla on the Caspian Sea. By sea route to Turkmenbashi in Turkmenistan. And via Ashgabat cross the Turkmen border into Afghanistan. This would be close to Heart. Another possibility is from Turkmen border the supply line could go to Uzbekistan. This is a circuitous route.
Baku (Azerbaijan) across the Caspian Sea to Turkmenbashi. From Turkmenbashi the route could follow the course mentioned in the above alternative.
Then there is the air route
Moscow- Almaty- Dushanbe and by road to Kunduz or to Bagram air base
Moscow – Astrakhan – Ashgabat – Heart
Baku – Ashgabat – Heart
Moscow – Tashkent – Termez and then by road to Mazar-I-Sharif or
Special flight to Bagram air base
