Full Breakdown
Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan-UAE Memorandum Launches Feasibility Study for a Central-South Asia Railway
By Drooid · · How we work
New CASA Railway MoU Signed by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates
Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the transport ministries of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate on the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (CASA) railway project. The agreement calls for joint technical and economic studies, analytical assessments and feasibility work on the required rail infrastructure and related facilities. The proposed corridor would run from Kazakhstan through Uzbekistan and Afghanistan to Pakistan’s seaports on the Arabian Sea, principally Karachi and Gwadar.
Project Scope and Expected Benefits
According to the project description, the rail line could transport up to 10 million metric tons of cargo to Pakistani ports, offering Central Asian landlocked states an alternative route for imports and exports. Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of Economy, Abdul Latif Nazari, said the railway could strengthen Afghanistan’s role as a transit hub and generate activity in freight transport, warehousing, customs and logistics. Afghan economic analyst Jannat Fahim Chakari noted that transit-fee revenues and broader economic activity would depend on effective implementation and detailed assessments. The United Arab Emirates is expected to contribute its experience in large-scale transport and logistics projects, while Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan would supply existing railway networks and transit infrastructure.
Official Statements from Participating Governments
Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal called for an accelerated feasibility study and a joint mechanism with Uzbekistan to seek international financing, signalling Pakistani support for the corridor. The MoU is described by the signatories as an initial step toward evaluating technical and economic viability; no construction timetable or cost estimate has been disclosed.
Anticipated Challenges
Experts highlighted several obstacles, including financing, construction costs, cross-border connectivity, administrative coordination, security concerns, customs procedures and border-facility readiness. The strained relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan was specifically cited as a potential security and logistical hurdle.
Next Steps and Feasibility Work
The parties plan to establish a dedicated working group to examine technical, economic and financial aspects of the CASA railway. The future of the project will hinge on the outcomes of these studies and subsequent decisions by the four governments regarding financing and implementation.