# Afghanistan regional trade and transport connectivity > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/afghanistan-regional-trade-and-transport-connectivity > Updated: 2026-10-18T08:31:23.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 4. Efforts to expand Afghanistan’s role in regional trade and transport infrastructure have intensified through multilateral and bilateral agreements. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and the United Arab Emirates signed a memorandum of understanding to study a new railway corridor that would connect Central Asia to Pakistan’s Arabian Sea ports via Afghanistan. This project aims to enhance connectivity and potentially transform Afghanistan into a regional transit hub. Concurrently, Afghan officials are pursuing broader economic cooperation. The Afghanistan Railway Authority has engaged with the Economic Cooperation Organization to discuss railway network development and investment. Additionally, Afghanistan is working to establish direct logistics routes with Kyrgyzstan, expand industrial and mining cooperation with Iran, and strengthen diplomatic ties with Qatar to facilitate international engagement. Progress on the Central Asia-South Asia (CASA) railway project has moved toward formal collaboration following the signing of the memorandum by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and the UAE. During the NEW SILK WAY business forum in Astana, officials from Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Iran discussed advancing the Trans-Afghan transport corridor to increase freight capacity and trade opportunities between Central, South, and West Asia. Recent developments highlight deepening ties between Iran and Afghanistan, with both nations aiming to increase bilateral trade to $10 billion. An Iranian parliamentary delegation to Kabul resulted in the signing of 28 memorandums of understanding valued at approximately $451.8 million. To further regional connectivity, Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Farzana Sadeq, proposed extending Afghanistan’s railway network from Herat to the Termez border in Uzbekistan. This extension is intended to link Central Asia and China to international markets via the Chabahar Port. Discussions also include potential railway connections linking Afghanistan to Türkiye, Europe, the Caucasus, and the Black Sea. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-18: Iran and Afghanistan seek to expand trade and regional railway connectivity Iran and Afghanistan are working to expand trade to $10 billion, focusing on railway connectivity and the Trans-Afghan Corridor to link Central Asia with international markets via Chabahar Port. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/iran-and-afghanistan-seek-to-expand-trade-and-regional-railway-connectivity ### 2026-10-17: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and UAE partner on CASA railway project Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and the UAE have signed an agreement to develop the CASA railway project, aiming to connect Central Asia to Pakistani seaports via Afghanistan to boost regional trade. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kazakhstan-uzbekistan-and-uae-partner-on-casa-railway-project ### 2026-10-13: Afghanistan officials pursue regional trade and transport links Afghanistan officials are conducting high-level meetings with representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, and Iran to expand railway networks, trade, mining cooperation, and international engagement. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/afghanistan-officials-pursue-regional-trade-and-transport-links ### 2026-10-02: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and UAE sign memorandum for railway corridor through Afghanistan Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and the UAE have signed a memorandum to study a new railway corridor through Afghanistan to Pakistan's seaports to boost regional trade and connectivity. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kazakhstan-uzbekistan-and-uae-sign-memorandum-for-railway-corridor-through-afghanistan --- Cite as: Afghanistan regional trade and transport connectivity. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/afghanistan-regional-trade-and-transport-connectivity