ISLAMABAD: Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has raised a poignantquestion highlighting the absence of direct train services connectingPakistan and Iran to key religious destinations like Mecca, Karbala, andIstanbul, drawing a stark contrast with the free movement enjoyed acrossEuropean borders. This remark underscores longstanding aspirations forenhanced regional connectivity among Muslim-majority nations, wheremillions undertake arduous journeys annually for pilgrimage and ziyarat.While Europe benefits from the Schengen Agreement allowing passport-freetravel, similar integration remains elusive in South and West Asia due togeopolitical, infrastructural, and logistical barriers. The query revivesdebates on why faith-based unity has not translated into practicaltransport links, prompting calls for renewed diplomatic efforts to bridgethese gaps.
The Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad (ITI) railway, often referred to as the ECOtrain project under the Economic Cooperation Organization, represents themost viable existing framework for cross-border rail travel involvingPakistan, Iran, and Turkey. Launched on a trial basis in 2009, the freightservice has operated intermittently, with restarts in 2021-2022 and plansto resume regular operations by late 2025. Covering approximately 6,500kilometers, the route links Islamabad to Istanbul via Tehran, demonstratingpotential for passenger services. However, a key challenge is thebreak-of-gauge at Zahedan, where Pakistan’s broad gauge meets Iran’sstandard gauge, necessitating transshipment of cargo and complicatingseamless passenger movement. Despite these hurdles, the project has carriedthousands of tons of goods, proving the technical feasibility of regionalrail corridors.
Extending such connectivity to religious sites like Mecca and Karbala addsfurther complexity. Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia once featured thehistoric Hejaz Railway, constructed by the Ottoman Empire between 1900 and1908 to facilitate Hajj pilgrims from Damascus. This 1,300-kilometer lineoperated successfully until disrupted during World War I and the ArabRevolt. Post-Ottoman fragmentation, political changes, including the riseof the Saudi state and subsequent conflicts in Syria, Jordan, andPalestine, halted revival efforts. Although proposals for reconstructioninvolving Turkey, Jordan, Syria, and Saudi Arabia surfaced in 2009, ongoingregional tensions have prevented implementation, leaving no operationalrail link from northern Muslim countries to the holy cities.
Karbala in Iraq, a major Shia pilgrimage center, faces similar obstaclesdespite partial rail developments. Iraq’s railway network connects to Iranand Turkey, with ongoing projects like the Shalamcheh-Basra line andKermanshah-Eslamabad-e Gharb route. However, no direct passenger serviceextends from Pakistan or Iran to Karbala due to border formalities,security concerns, and incomplete infrastructure. Pilgrims from Pakistantypically rely on road travel through Iran or air routes, enduring longjourneys. Efforts to upgrade Iraq’s railroads, including links to Kuwaitand Saudi Arabia, remain in planning stages, hampered by post-conflictreconstruction priorities and geopolitical rivalries.
Geopolitical factors significantly impede progress toward integrated railnetworks. Sanctions on Iran have historically delayed financing andtransactions for cross-border projects, while security issues along thePakistan-Iran border, including militant activities, necessitate stringentcontrols. Unlike Europe’s Schengen zone, which evolved through decades ofeconomic integration and trust-building post-World War II, South and WestAsia grapple with historical conflicts, territorial disputes, and varyingvisa regimes. Even within the ECO framework, which includes Iran, Pakistan,and Turkey, progress has been slow, with freight prioritized over passengerservices amid differing national priorities.
Despite challenges, recent developments signal potential momentum. Iran hasadvanced the Chabahar-Zahedan railway, nearing completion by March 2026,enhancing links to Pakistan’s border. Pakistan Railways targets upgradesunder Vision 2026, including faster tracks and private sector involvement.Joint statements from leaders emphasize trade and connectivity, with theITI corridor positioned as a bridge to Europe and Central Asia. Ifrealized, passenger trains could reduce travel times dramatically comparedto sea or air options, offering affordable access for pilgrims.
Read Top Stories
The President’s question resonates deeply with millions of Muslims who viewseamless travel as a symbol of unity. While Europe demonstrates how openborders foster economic and cultural ties, the Muslim world faces uniquehistorical and political constraints. Reviving dormant projects like theHejaz Railway or expanding ITI to include religious corridors would requireunprecedented cooperation among Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, andTurkey.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul–Tehran–Islamabadrailway
Tags: Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad railway, HejazRailway
ogimage_image-name
