Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and UAE partner on CASA railway project

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and the United Arab Emirates have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the Central Asia-South Asia (CASA) railway project. This initiative aims to establish an international rail route connecting Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan, providing Central Asian regions with direct access to Pakistani seaports.

During the NEW SILK WAY business forum in Astana, officials from Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Iran discussed advancing the Trans-Afghan transport corridor. The discussions focused on improving transport links between Central, South, and West Asia to increase freight capacity and expand trade opportunities.

To move the project toward practical implementation, the participating nations will establish a working group to conduct technical, economic, and financial analyses. Key objectives include route coordination, infrastructure development, the establishment of a cargo base, and identifying financing mechanisms to attract international investors and financial institutions.