In the period of Selim II, Sokullu Mehmed Pasha wanted to construct a channel between the Don and Idyll Rivers in order to provide both the transportation for the military expedition to Iran and the communication between Turkey and Turkestan and to connect the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. To this effect, a resolution had been taken in order to organise an expedition towards Astrahan and a written document was sent to the Crimean Khan that stated that the expedition was obligatorily required in respect of material and spiritual aspects in the year of 1567. Finally, in the spring of the year of 1569, 3000 Janissaries and 20.000 cavalrymen were sent under the command of Kefe Bey, Kasim Bey. The troop commanders of Silistre, Nigbolu, Köstendil, Amasya, Canik and Corum had joined to these forces together with 30.000 soldiers of Devlet Giray. The works for the excavation of the channel was only initiated under the protection of these forces. When the forces that set in motion from the lands came towards Astrahan in September, a fortification was started to be built to spend the winter there. However, Kasim Bey who got suspicious about the news that diffused among the soldiers burnt the fortifications made of wood upon the encouragement of Devlet Giray and he had to retreat towards Crimea on the date of 20th September.
In the period of Murad III, the matter of Astrahan was again put on the agenda and some attempts were carried out in the vicinity of the Russian Tsar. Finally, a decision was taken for the organisation of a military expedition; but it was not followed. Therefore, the fate of this Turkish country could not be determined for a long time due to the conflicts among the Turkish leaders rather than the strength of their enemies.