India developing Chabahar in Iran port for access to Central Asia

[Mad Indian]

I am sure ToI could have thought of a better header than that.

This is pretty much the answer India seems to have given to the west on Iran and why we cant give up on them, along with the recent trade delegation visit to Iran. Its good to see a lot more assertive FP, and constructive from our PoV. If we route our exports through Iran, our exports' cost significantly declines and makes them more competitive, also the time taken gets cut by half, and we then have a much better chance on pushing our exports to CAR, and look for healthy trade relations with them.

One can hope this very important project doesnt get stuck too much in bureaucratic hurdles, and results in a delay.

I want to know something, why should a Democratic Iran be any threat to us? We can have same or even better relation with them now no, if we just to manage to stay out of the western backed military actions. We did the same in Afghan(more or less) right? Also in Iraq, the recent debacle in US about Iraq not buying up its rice or something and that it is buying from India. we can have a similar thing with them right? Hope you understand my question.

 

[aerokan]

One less in the list of the things remaining to do:

1. get balochistan off the map of pakistan thereby denying the good port access to pakistan and china from gwadar
2. Get Northern Areas back into the indian jurisdiction and deny the land capability to china and ensure land access to CAR at the same time.
3. If possible get Sindh to be a seperate state and a permanent land access to the EU and CAR and middle east will be achieved. We will then be able to connect the middle east, EU and the South east asia by land.

 

[JAISWAL]

Iran Opens Chabahar Port For NATO Supply zaranj-delaram – PKKH.tv
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PKKH Exclusive | by Shaikh Fahad

Afghan officials from Ministry of Chamber & Commerce speaking on condition of anonymity have said that Afghanistan will be allowed to use Iran's Chabahar port for shipments and trade after the two countries signed an agreement in Kabul last Wednesday. It has also been learned that the Chabahar port has been financed by Indian government to maintain Iranian and Indian influence in Afghanistan after US forces leave Afghanistan in 2014. The second purpose, we believe of investment in this port is to counter Gwadar port of Pakistan.

The agreement was signed by Afghanistan's Minister of Commerce and Industries Anwar al Haq Ahady and the Iranian Ambassador to Afghanistan Abolfazl Zohrevand.


The endorsement of the pact means Afghan traders including those directly working with American contracting companies will be able to use the southeastern port – Iran's only port with direct access to the sea – for importing and exporting goods. The news of signing of this agreement comes as relief to US/NATO official since the closure of NATO supplies from Pakistan has caused massive setback in terms of finance to US/NATO.

Officials said the Chabahar port will help Afghanistan's trade-related transit problems and is likely to boost commercial transactions.

Ahady said that, according to the agreement, the first step involves building a hub near the port for Afghan traders to have a base for trading from.

The allocation of land is around 50 hectares and he expects traders would be able to use it within a year, he said.

"Through the efforts of the Afghan and Iranian officials, Chabahar as a transit route for Afghanistan has become a reality," he added.

A panel of officials from Iran who travelled to Afghanistan for the signing of the agreement said that many countries had applied to Chabahar Port for permission to use it, and Afghanistan with the help of Indian Investment had succeeded.

Ambassador Zohrevand welcomed the agreement saying it would help the economic expansion of Afghanistan as the port would provide greater access to Afghanistan into world markets.

"The outcome of this agreement is not only positive for Afghanistan and Iran relations, we also expect it to help the joint cooperation of Afghan and Iran traders so they can expand through cooperation to the Middle East and Asia," he said.

The agreement eases the pressure on the US-backed Afghan Government to rely on trade routes through Pakistan, as relations between the two countries have witnessed significant restrains in recent months.

It also signals the warming of relations between Iran and Afghanistan. Only last week the pair endorsed an agreement to allow for the transfer of prisoners sentenced in the other's country to serve their sentence in their native land.

 

[JAISWAL]

another source...
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Iran Opens Chabahar Port to Afghan Traders | Pukhtoonistan Gazette

 

[Tolaha]

Iran allowing Chabahar to be used for NATO supplies to Afghanistan seem to have been reported by only one news site.

 

[JAISWAL]

another source--
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Iran Opens Chabahar Port to Afghan Traders

 

[LurkerBaba]

For NATO supplies ? Any other sources ?

 

[pmaitra]

This is excellent news (if true).

NATO was probably in talks with the Iranians for an access route to Afghanistan. I would speculate India also played a major role in this. Recent conciliatory comments from Israel might also explain this.

 

[hit&run]

This is one hell of a news (if true) and many like minded Indians could have been dreaming the same. I hope India has played a role in this and if she has then from Burma to Iran non confronting Indian diplomatic ways must have been impressing Americans for sure.

 

[IBSA]

For a country threatened to be attacked by West forces, cooperation with NATO goals can be a strategy of defence

US will no attack Iran if they are needing Iran territory to solve the Afghanistan puzzle.

 

[mki]

If this news is true and indian diplomacy played major roll then i bet... there is 36" umbrella opend deep inside paki a**.

 

[hit&run]

Now India should increase the saturation of its naval fleets (merchant) towards Iranian port. I heard India is investing in Iran - Afghanistan railway corridor (road already completed).

 

[sukhish]

Now India should increase the saturation of its naval fleets (merchant) towards Iranian port. I heard India is investing in Iran - Afghanistan railway corridor (road already completed).

Even if NATO doesn't use it the fact that the trade route has become operational is a very good news.
The Karachi route is very unpredictable as it has to pass through balouchistan, fata etc. Taliban/ISI can use that as a ransome at any point in future. Also Iran route is very secure. I have not heard of a single bombing incident in Iran during these 10 year war on terror. Route through Pakistan might be cheap logistically, but if you take security into account it becomes immpossible to rely on that route. This is a good move by India, as access to central Asia through Secure Iran is a must for India. It is better ton pay little
More for distance than be held ransom every now and then by Pakistan army.

 

[ejazr]

PKKH is a Zaid Hamid affiliated site. They have all sorts of conspiracy theories going on so don't trust it

Chahbahar port has been open to Afghan traders for a long time now for selected companies but this makes it official so now any Afghan trader can get his goods from here. Its still good overall because now Afghanistan no longer have to depend on Karachi port for their exports and imports


Iran Opens Chabahar Port to Afghan Traders
Afghanistan will be allowed to use Iran's Chabahar port for shipments and trade after the two countries signed an agreement in Kabul Wednesday.

The agreement was signed by Afghanistan's Minister of Commerce And Industries Anwar al Haq Ahady and the Iranian Ambassador to Afghanistan Abolfazl Zohrevand.

The endorsement of the pact means Afghan traders will be able to use the southeastern port - Iran's only port with direct access to the sea - for importing and exporting goods.

Officials said the Chabahat port will help Afghanistan's trade-related transit problems and is likely to boost commercial transactions.

Ahady said that, according to the agreement, the first step involves building a hub near the port for Afghan traders to have a base for trading from.

The allocation of land is around 50 hectares and he expects traders would be able to use it within a year, he said.

"Through the efforts of the Afghan and Iranian officials, Chabahar as a transit route for Afghanistan has become a reality," he added.

A panel of officials from Iran who travelled to Afghanistan for the signing of the agreement said that many countries had applied to Chabahar Port for permission to use it, and Afghanistan had succeeded.

Ambassador Zohrevand welcomed the agreement saying it would help the economic expansion of Afghanistan as it gave greater access to world markets.

"The outcome of this agreement is not only positive for Afghanistan and Iran relations, we also expect it to help the joint cooperation of Afghan and Iran traders so they can expand through cooperation to the Middle East and Asia," he said.

The agreement eases the pressure on Afghanistan to rely on trade routes through Pakistan, as relations between the two have significantly strained in recent years.

It also signals the warming relations between Iran and Afghanistan. Only last week the pair endorsed an agreement to allow for the transfer of prisoners sentenced in the other's country to serve their sentence in their native land.

 

[Yusuf]

The story sounds too good to be true. Something we all wanted to happen. But as Ejaz said, I think there is a spin on the news. The port is for Afghan traders. But it is possible that NATO supplies are pushed through in the guise of aid for Afghans.

 

[ejazr]

Yes, an Afghan trader who is also a supplier for NATO can import his goods like boots, food items, concrete, fuel e.t.c. from Chabahar port and then sell it onwards to NATO.

Nothing stops him from doing that.

 

[Yusuf]

No news on this in any mainstream media western or Indian.

 

[marshal panda]

India must have had a hand in this.

 

[Ray]

This is excellent news (if true).

NATO was probably in talks with the Iranians for an access route to Afghanistan. I would speculate India also played a major role in this. Recent conciliatory comments from Israel might also explain this.

If you remember one of the US Generals during a Congressional Hearing recently (there was a thread here too!) said if Pakistan does not open the logistics route, India will assist.

Obviously, that was odd given that there was no land continuity with Afghanistan and the air route would have to be through Iraq - CAR - Afghanistan and that would not be cost effective.

Obviously, this is how India is 'assisting' the US.


I have found the link:

ISAF's new plan for Afghanistan - The Long War Journal

 

[nitesh]

So I guess this news is not true?