The transport ministries of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure have signed a memorandum on the CASA railway project. What it sets in motion is study work, not construction, and the route, investment size and timeline are all still open.
According to a Kazakh Prime Minister's Office statement issued on the evening of 30 September, the three ministries signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation under the project. CASA stands for Central Asia – South Asia; the idea is a Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan line that would give cargo access to Pakistan's seaports.
The memorandum covers three things: technical and economic studies, analytical assessments, and a review of whether the necessary rail infrastructure and related facilities are feasible. The parties also discussed next steps and are considering a working group on the project's technical, economic and financial questions. "Considering" means it does not exist yet. The Kazakh side's rationale is that Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have well-developed rail networks and transit potential, while the UAE brings experience in transport infrastructure, logistics and large investment projects.
The cargo figure needs its source attached. During a visit to Kabul in June, Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin said the CASA corridor could carry up to 10 million tonnes of cargo towards the Pakistani ports of Karachi and Gwadar. That is Kazakhstan's own estimate of potential. It does not appear in the statement on the memorandum and is not an agreed volume.
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A separate, related track exists. On 17 July 2025 Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan signed a framework agreement in Kabul on a joint feasibility study for a trans-Afghan railway, covering the Naibabad–Kharlachi section. The Kazakh statement does not say how CASA would connect with it.
For shippers and forwarders working Central Asia to South Asia, there is nothing to book yet: no schedule and no rates. The practical thing to watch is whether a working group is formed and whether study results and a route are published.
Sources:
Official website of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, https://primeminister.kz/ru/news/kazahstan-uzbekistan-i-oae-prorabotayut-zheleznodorozhnyy-marshrut-kazahstan-uzbekistan-afganistan-pakistan-31940
Qazinform, https://qazinform.com/news/kazakhstan-uzbekistan-and-uae-to-explore-new-casa-railway-corridor-project-fae749
Kursiv, https://kz.kursiv.media/en/2026-10-01/engk-tank-kazakhstan-uzbekistan-and-the-uae-to-develop-railway-route-to-pakistan/
Official website of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan (Zhumangarin's Kabul visit), https://primeminister.kz/ru/news/transport-logistika-gmk-i-torgovlia-serik-zumangarin-obsudil-perspektivy-sotrudnicestva-s-rukovodstvom-afganistana-31544
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, https://mfa.gov.af/en/45037
Anadolu Agency, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/pakistan-afghanistan-uzbekistan-sign-railway-framework-pact/3634073
Key facts
- The Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan and the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation for the CASA Railway project.
- The memorandum covers conducting technical and economic studies, performing analytical assessment, and demonstrating whether it is feasible to build the railway and supporting facilities.
- The envisioned alignment of the CASA Corridor is Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan, with goods ultimately arriving at Pakistan's seaports.
- The three parties are considering establishing a working group to conduct a unified study of the project's technical, economic and financing issues; it has not yet been established.
- Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Zhumangarin said the CASA Corridor could transport up to approximately 10 million tons of cargo; this is Kazakhstan's statement about the potential.
- Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan signed a framework agreement on a joint feasibility study for the Trans-Afghan Railway in Kabul on July 17, 2025.
FAQ
Who are the signatories to the CASA Railway memorandum?
The signatories are the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan and the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. The relevant news was released by the Kazakh Prime Minister's Office on the evening of September 30.
What stage is this project at now?
At present, it only involves technical and economic studies, analytical assessment, and demonstration of whether it is feasible to build the necessary railway facilities and supporting facilities; it has not yet entered the construction stage.
What is the envisioned route and endpoint of the CASA Corridor?
The envisioned alignment is Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan, with goods ultimately arriving at Pakistan's seaports.
Can cargo space be booked or freight rates referenced now?
At present, there are no routes available for booking, nor schedules and freight rates; you can watch for whether a working group, research results and route plans are announced later.
Is the approximately 10 million tons of cargo volume a confirmed volume?
No. This is a statement about potential made by Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Zhumangarin during his visit to Afghanistan in June this year; it is not in this memorandum announcement, nor is it a confirmed cargo volume.