MOSCOW, August 8. /TASS/. Moscow and Islamabad are working to launch the first rail cargo line connecting Russia and Pakistan, with a possibility of Minsk joining the project, Russian Ambassador to Pakistan Albert Khorev told Izvestia.

"Together with the Pakistani partners, we are working to organize the first rail cargo route between our countries, connecting Moscow-Faisalabad and Moscow-Karachi in both directions. An opportunity of involving the Belarusian side into the project is also being worked out," the diplomat said.

In his words, the project has been repeatedly delayed over geopolitical tensions in the region in 2025 and early 2026.

"At this point, the sides are at the stage of completing work on the service contract and on choosing companies from countries along the presumed route that are interested in moving their cargo," the ambassador added.

Earlier, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin told TASS in an interview that Russia needs to create a railway route to the Indian Ocean to reduce risks related to the Bosphorus and the Strait of Hormuz.