New Delhi, August 19, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Russia is exploring the possibility of establishing an overland rail corridor to connect its markets with India and the Indian Ocean, potentially providing an alternative to vulnerable maritime routes such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Bosphorus Strait.
The proposal was raised by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin and first reported by Russian news agency Tass on August 6. Khusnullin said Moscow should explore a railway route providing access to the Indian Ocean, including possible corridors through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
“Any options providing access to India are acceptable,” Khusnullin said.
The proposal comes against the backdrop of growing concerns over disruptions at strategic maritime chokepoints and their impact on global supply chains. The Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of global oil trade passes, connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, while the Bosphorus links the Black Sea with the Mediterranean through Turkish territory.
India, which imports more than 85 per cent of its crude oil requirements, has significantly increased purchases of Russian crude. Russian oil accounted for more than half of India’s oil imports in July, according to the source material, as global crude prices rose amid tensions in the Middle East.
A rail corridor linking Russia with India through Central and South Asia remains at an exploratory stage. However, the proposal highlights growing interest among countries in developing alternative trade routes that can reduce dependence on vulnerable maritime chokepoints.
For Moscow, an overland route could also provide an additional connection to Indian and wider Global South markets amid the shipping restrictions and Western sanctions imposed following Russia’s military action in Ukraine in 2022.
The proposed route, however, would face substantial geopolitical and logistical challenges. Any corridor passing through Afghanistan and Pakistan would have to contend with prevailing security and political uncertainties in both countries.
The Bosphorus also remains strategically significant for Russia because Turkey controls the strait, making it an important factor in Moscow’s maritime trade calculations.
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