The first Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul container train referred to as ECO Train was launched into  operation today (Friday) concurrent with the anniversary of Pakistan’s independence, and in the presence of Pakistani officials and Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states’ railway authorities. Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul railway is 6,500 kilometers in length, of which 2,570 kilometers, and 2,006 kilometers are respectively located in Iran and Turkey, with the rest of the railway located in Pakistan’s soil. It takes ECO Train almost 15 days to cover the distance from Islamabad to Istanbul, which is half the period it takes to cover this distance through the naval route. ECO has ten member states, namely: Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan Republic, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan. It is an active regional economic organization, which, during the recent years, has placed infrastructure development on its agenda for expansion of member states’ exchanges and interactions. According to ECO charter, this organization strives for improvement of conditions to set the stage for sustainable economic development of member states. Transportation and energy sectors, in addition to facilitation of trade, are three important fields of cooperation among ECO member states. Given the importance of transportation industry in economic growth and development; the launch of Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul railway into operation will certainly help promote member states’ economic exchanges. The transportation sector as the foundation and pre-requisite for development is key to materialization of communities’ potentials. With the transportation of cargo and passengers, the transportation sector establishes a strong bond among different growth and development factors and swiftly reinforces the countries’ economic, social, and cultural sectors. From this angle, the launch of ECO Train into operation shows that this organization is taking decisive steps for reinforcement of its status in the region and across the world that can lead to materialization of this organization’s elevated goals, especially within the framework of ECO 2015 perspective plan. Meanwhile, the South and Central Asian regions are grappling with numerous challenges including radicalism. Pundits believe one of the main reasons behind this situation is underdevelopment and poverty. The development of transportation industry can set the stage for economic prosperity; can pave the way for reinforcement of regional economy; and can therefore minimize the radicals’ activities; while boosting the cooperation and convergence of countries for withstanding other challenges, such as: occupation, drug and arms trafficking, and economic challenges. Moreover, undoubtedly, promotion of rail transportation among ECO member states, and enhancement of rail transportation sector’s competitiveness vis-à-vis naval and ground transportation systems, calls for further measures by governments, especially in regard to tariffs, that can in turn herald a development in volume of exchanges among ECO member states in the near future. Furthermore, expansion of rail transportation system among ECO member states lays the ground for enhancement of this organization’s interactions and links with other countries, and organizations in regions such as East and South Asia and Europe.