Explanation

After a 10-year halt, cargo train service between Turkiye, Iran, and Pakistan has been relaunched in a major boost for trade among the three countries and within the region. After a pause of around a decade, the first freight train between Istanbul and Islamabad via Tehran reached Ankara via Lahore, Taftan and Zahedan on Monday, completing its 17-day journey in 13 days. A second train is already on its way to Turkey. The first train that departed on Dec 21 from Islamabad carrying goods (mainly pink salt) reached Ankara (Turkey) on Monday Jan 3, 2022.