Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced Russia's readiness to participate in the development of a transport corridor that will connect Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan within the framework of the North—South ITC. This statement was made at a meeting with the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdullah Aripov in Moscow.

The idea of Afghanistan joining the project was put forward by the Minister of Trade and Industry of this country, Noureddin Azizi, at KazanForum 2023. According to him, Afghanistan can become an important link in the transport network of Eurasia and ensure security and stability in the region.

The Afghan side offers to use its territory for the transit of goods from Pakistan to the ports of Turkmenistan and Iran on the Caspian Sea, and then along the Volga to Tatarstan, which can become the logistics center of the project.

The head of the Russian Business Center in Kabul, Rustam Khabibullin, noted that Russia had shown interest in Afghanistan's participation in the project and provided it with political and diplomatic support.