Pakistan

Chabahar port will help India bypass Pakistan: Afghan president

In veiled reference to Pakistan, Ghani says states should help their neighbours and not indulge in maligning them

Reuters September 15, 2016

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. PHOTO: AFP

Afghanistan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday said the Chabahar agreement will help India bypass Pakistan in transporting goods to Pakistan via a sea-land route.

"Why are we so concerned that a country (Pakistan) can block two great nations (India-Afghanistan) from trade? Let's organise it then, let's put the logistics in place. Anyway, Chabahar will end the monopoly," said Ghani, during his visit to India.

Ghani's comments come at a time when ties between South Asian rivals India and Pakistan are severely hit due to the unrest in Kashmir.

Ghani, who is on a two-day visit, had bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day. Both leaders agreed that militancy presented the single biggest threat to peace, stability and progress in the region and beyond.

Will Chabahar Port reap greater benefits than Gwadar Port?

Speaking at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in New Delhi, Ghani asserted that making distinction between good and bad terrorism is a "short-sighted" approach.

The Afghan state head said states should help their neighbours and not indulge in maligning them. "They (states) do not behave like maligned non states actors vis-a-vis their neighbours. They see a collective security to be an objective and that's what brings stability. Stability does not come from the barrel of the gun," said Afghanistan President, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani.

Pakistan has blamed India for the two-month unrest in Kashmir that has left at least 71 people dead and wounded thousands of others.

Meanwhile, New Delhi has blamed its neighbour for stoking further trouble by pushing militants across the heavily militarised border that divides the region.

Pakistan sees no threat from Iran’s Chabahar port

India in May this year announced that it will build and operate Chabahar port and invest USD 500 million to develop the strategically important port, close to Iran's border with Pakistan.

Earlier in the day, India and Afghanistan signed three agreements. New Delhi also announced a credit of USD one billion to Kabul.

New Delhi has provided a little over $2 billion in economic assistance to Afghanistan in the last 15 years, but has been more measured in providing weapons in order to avoid a backlash from Pakistan, which sees Afghanistan as its area of influence.

COMMENTS (85)

Lakhkar Khan | 7 years ago | Reply @سے Shaam (Hanafi): So is Afghanistan crazy, again, to think they will befriend India. India is using Afghans and that's all.

Vectra | 7 years ago | Reply @Hakim Afghani: Yes definitely there are many routes to reach your home and it doesn't matter whatever route you take but the point is reaching your destination is the most important thing and Chabahar does exactly provides that alternate route.

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Humza | 7 years ago | Reply @Hakim Afghani: Most Pakistanis hope that the route from Afghanistan to Pakistan be closely monitored and controlled. If for India and Afghanistan the route via Pakistan becomes history, then it will serve everyone since they can all move on and Afghan refugees in Pakistan can move back to Kabul and Afghans running away can travel from Iran via Chabahar to India. For over seven decades, Pakistan has suffered from cross border incursions financed by India through their lackeys in Kabul and most common people just want it to stop so that stability resumes as it finally has after a long time.

Hakim Afghani | 7 years ago | Reply Pakistan is already bypassed via other central Asia routes and Chabahar will be an alternative to that. Pakistani routes are history now.

Ravi | 7 years ago | Reply CPEC if and when it is built over all the reservations from Pakistanis themselves will only serve the Chinese. Its for chinese trade and does not have significant benefits for Pakistan. Now assume that CPEC has security issues, China has no other option but to choose Chabahar which will pass through stable Iran and Northern Afghanisthan from where it can go to CHina. So overall China is covered but no Pakistan which has to pay interest to China's loans. Over 15000 chinese will work and Pakistan will not learn skills or create jobs. So in my view overall Pakistan is the loser. Solely depending on one country is even more unwise as China can armtwist knowing that Pakistan has no where else to go. How the Pakistani leadership can be so myopic is irrational to anyone outside.

ajeet | 7 years ago | Reply @Aun: It was Pakistani mercenary army that's the cause of the instability in Afghanistan, so why should India take in refugees?

Chacha Jee | 7 years ago | Reply Even China is by passing Pakistan... Punjab which is the real Pakistan

Besharam Khan | 7 years ago | Reply Don't know if Ghani is aware of Afghanistan's demography / geology or not... Afghanistan's most important cities for trade are Jalalabad, Mazar and Kabul. The Chaman border is rarely used for trade though its more near to Karachi and Quetta. Majority of trade is done through Torkham because Kabul, Jalalabad, Mazar and other business oriented cites are closer to this region of the border. Chahbahar will again be accessible to Kandahar or Heraat. The Chahbahar containers will have to cross Paktia, Kandahar, Ghazni, Paktika, Khost etc. Apart from cost and longer time consumption all these regions are populated by people who have lust for blood. So apart from indian spices all other stuff will still come through Pakistan. Note for Mr. Modi Afghanis don't eat spices :(

BlackHat | 7 years ago | Reply @JHJanjua: In fact, the Chinese wanted to participate in the Chahbahar project in a big way. That did not happen. But, they are building a large industrial zone adjacent to the port.

Ejaz | 7 years ago | Reply "The Afghan state head said states should help their neighbours and not indulge in maligning them." Thank you for slapping the hand that fed you not for a day, a month, or an year but forty years. All we got was a culture of drugs, klishankov, and all that nonsense that came along.

BlackHat | 7 years ago | Reply @JHJanjua: Why would Iran keep India at bay? India isn't going to colonize or take over Iran! Trade amongst countries is beneficial for all. The purpose of Chahbahar is to open up access to Afghanistan and $500 million is sufficient initial investment. CPEC is a grand idea of linking Xinjiang and Tibet to the sea but it is not clear how viable the project is. Neither of the sparsely populated regions is industrialized nor produce much of anything to export. What is the present volume of China trade, if that is an indicator, that passes through KKH or the port of Karachi? Virtually nothing. There are recent media reports of declining Pakistani exports. So, how will Pakistan pay back the $46B loan with interests, not counting the current debt? Peace is essential for the economic growth of Pakistan, you will not get peace by becoming a pawn in the hands of someone else.

diaz | 7 years ago | Reply @awais ahmad: Goods from India to Afghanistan and vice versa through Pakistan never reaching destination. Through Iran, at least goods will reach in four weeks. Which one is good for Afghanistan ?

Khattak | 7 years ago | Reply @Ali Khanzada....s a Pakistani it pains me that Mr Ghani would speak this way. If it weren’t for the Pakistanis Mr Ghani and his children would be speaking Russian." You & your parents are speaking English because of what? British Slavery I suppose. Do you feel anything wrong about it. Rather I am sure you are proud of your kids speaking in British or American Ascent. So take it easy on other & giving lectures or advise to freedom loving Afghans. The young generation & Afghan Mujahids know the reality of your support so they value it that much. By the way it is an abuse in Afghanistan to be associated with Pakistan. Try it for yourself in bazars of Kabul, the only thing that can save you in Kabul is to declare yourself an Indian.

Zen | 7 years ago | Reply I wonder why Pakistanis are worried whether this amount is for development of Afghanistan or against Pakistan. Are you doubting your most beloved Pakistani when he has assured you the borders are safe.

far | 7 years ago | Reply When there is nothing in CPEC why Indians and Afghanistan are so worried just leave it and do your work You have your own country just think about it leave Pakistan alone

Pakistani | 7 years ago | Reply To Afghani people: Please do your trade via Chabahar, we pakistani people dont want any contact with you ungrateful people. Never ever enter Pakistan. Dont talk with us. Its not only Pakistans responsibility to guard the Pak-Afghan border, but also you peoples responsibillity. Pakistan have already 150.000-200.000 soliders in the border to check any unauthorized immigration.

Aleem | 7 years ago | Reply Please bypass us by all means. After all Chahbahaar is an Iranian concern. Just don't let Indians take pungay with CPEC from Afghanistan. That would not be in the interest of Afghanistan.

Oommen | 7 years ago | Reply Japan is also stepping up investment in Chabahar Port. so it won't end up like a "ghost city" in China With China's shale revolution they won't need to Gwadar port. They just need one route to dump export rejects, dismantle polluting coal fired plants, and test their n-plants !!! (for which Pakistan will pay the highest interest possible)

Pakistani | 7 years ago | Reply @Indian: It is clear that Mr ghani is talking the Indian language by taking in more dollars. Good luck to him.... matter of time before he realises how big mistake he has made....

Khalid | 7 years ago | Reply Ghani and Ranjit Sing has some similarities. Both of them were placed as rulers and run a puppet regime by world powers of their time. And both of them will have same fate i.e. Will be overthrown by its subjects.

FAZ | 7 years ago | Reply And in other news that no one seems to notice, Israel signs a multi billion defence deal with the US. Experts believe its history repeating, and Israel is about to do the dirty job. This is how US works. Carrots in the form of deal, and stick from the allies. By the time chabahar comes into some practical thing from its blue print, Iran would be another Iraq with Hizbullah cutting throats of foreigners like ISIS and Ghani sahab would be living in India with none other than his former Mr. Hamid Karzai planning to open a Kabul Darbar in New Delhi..

awais ahmad | 7 years ago | Reply You can surely bypass Pakistan, if you can afford to add a week + 4 times more distance to get your goods.

Arrow | 7 years ago | Reply Meanwhile kelly ayotte the republican backed by 18 GOP introduced a separate bill that will enhance sanction law till 2031 and that require new sanctions to be tied to iran so that it can halt its nuclear ambitions.

Pashtun | 7 years ago | Reply We are proud of our Army which spoils all acts of hostility operated by indians from afghan soil. And who cares about an imported puppet's remarks ? The one who needs american special forces for his security in his palace. Pakistanis should not be worried about afghanistan as the descendents of Ahmed Shah Abdali will repeat history again

Zen | 7 years ago | Reply If China was to give US$1 billion to Afghanistan, most Pakistanis will close their businesses and run to the highest Himalayan point and praise its Master.

Puppet | 7 years ago | Reply Boring? Ask IOK Kashmiris how boring it is. Your comment shows your apathy with your fellow country men.@Rahul Patil:

Saeed Masood | 7 years ago | Reply Mr. Ashraf Ghani if it is right what you are saying then why is Iran is requesting Pakistan again and again to let them join CPEC, Please open your eyes and mind everyone is laughing at you and your dialogues.

diaz | 7 years ago | Reply @Aun: Why the Afghan refugees are in Pakistan ? Why Pakistan decided to join hand with the evil against Afghanistan ? If I write more, my comment may not appear. Newspaper "DAWN" never allow my comment to appear in their newspaper.

Bol | 7 years ago | Reply Good for you Ashraf Ghani, what took you people so long to realise that?. Should have done it thousand years ago to spare Pakistan the headache of dealing with Afghanistan.

Rahul Patil | 7 years ago | Reply It's high time Pakistan stop fomenting trouble in its backyard.. South Asia could become an economic powerhouse had it been for the boring kashmir issue

Omar Sadiq | 7 years ago | Reply @G. Din: Russia....note how the Indians view you?? Distance from you and now leaning towards uncle sam!! H1B1 anyone?????

Black Hawk | 7 years ago | Reply @dubious: Chabahar & Gwadar ports are competitors in the sense that both will be competing for global transit trade from Europe & middle east upto central asia & Russia. As of now, the CPEC is only for the benefit of China. For it to be beneficial for Pakistan, Gwadar & CPEC would have to become a transit hub used by many nations but given Pakistan's bad reputation & belligerent attitude towards its neighbors, it seems highly unlikely. If I have to make a bet, I would say Chabahar would attract a lot more global transit business than Gwadar.

AKA | 7 years ago | Reply @Farhan: IRAN ALREADY ASK PAKISTAN TO PART OF CEPAC.

Indian | 7 years ago | Reply 2 years back Afghan President Ghani was all praising Pakistan and cancelling all contracts with India. See now how things have changed. It is clear Pakistani establishment's policy of supporting terrorist is monumental failure and Modi/Doval is genius.

Black Hawk | 7 years ago | Reply @stevenson: Mr. "Stevenson", Pakistan has more poverty than India & it needs loans aid from others to pay its bills. Then why does Pakistan spend millions & possibly billions on supporting terrorist groups which it considers "strategic depth" against its neighbors? At least India is spending its money for good purposes to build infrastructure, educational institutions & hospitals in Afghanistan whereas Pakistan spends money to provide support to terrorists which kill & maim Afghans on a daily basis. Talk to any average Afghans including Pashtuns & they'll tell you they respect & love Indians a lot more than even Americans who have given them a lot more money than India. They will also tell you how much they despise the Pakistani military establishment.

Auginpk | 7 years ago | Reply Chabahar is not India's project. It is a project in Iran. Other two main partners are India and Afghanistan. Historically people of Afghanistan and Iran had more backbone i.e. they took more stand against others powerful countries than India and Pakistan. It is not only a question of pride but an issue of upliftment of our people. Which is paramount.

Pukhtoon | 7 years ago | Reply Ghani just wants to keep his chair which as per all reports is going to fall thanks to the greedy people around him who see him failing in all spheres especially security and development. As for Chabahar, it is sufficient to know that Iran itself is repeatedly requesting Pakistan to allow it to join Gwadar. Indian experts are not at all excited about chabahar knowing it is neither viable nor likely to succeed- by the way zero work there so far. The only tactic for India is the desperate suicide bombers they are training and sending from Afghanistan to Pakistan.

Sorcerer | 7 years ago | Reply @JHJanjua: Do you know how many world class ports India has on its own soil? Have you heard about new shipping terminals developed and in development by Indian companies in India and abroad. Feeling sad for your lack of knowledge on world nations.

stevenson | 7 years ago | Reply @OSD: How can India where have the people don't have toilets donate money to Afghanistan unless it is more to do with military needs? India uses Afghanistan as a base for terrorism against Pakistan but the world knows about Indian designs. India should understand that the West has already pumped hundreds of billions of dollars in Afghanistan which has done nothing to improve the situation there. India can keep throwing money at Afghanistan too but it too will be wasted.

RA | 7 years ago | Reply "The Afghan state head said states should help their neighbours and not indulge in maligning them." Yes Mr. Ghani, so stop maligning Pakistan!

masoom | 7 years ago | Reply India,s frustation is well understood but why afghan president is pointing Pakistan in each and every thing , may be to get more money and benefits from congenital enemies of Pakistan as Pakistan is already hosting a significant numbers of afghan refugees for long time and no other benefits are possible moreover Pakistani mullahs and nationalist leader support this thankless nation in the name of Islam and nationalism!

FAS | 7 years ago | Reply CPEC end up in China which is worlds largest economy, while Charbahar leads up to war torn Afghanistan. That itself enough proof which project makes economic sense. Gawadar and CPEC has no competition with Charbahar.

Irfan | 7 years ago | Reply India, Afghan and Iran all are concerned about CPEC and Gawadar Project . Their desperation can be witness in their daily comments . These project will be completed and these three will utilize it as well sooner or later.

Rana | 7 years ago | Reply Here all chest thumping pakistanis should worry how this self inflicted isolation will affect adversely it externally as well as internally in long term.

dubious | 7 years ago | Reply @Black Hawk:

Just with a $500 million investment in Chabahar, India will checkmate the $46 billion investment of China in Pakistan. Just wait & watch.

Not sure why people think Chabahar and CPEC are competitors? India and Afghanistan need Chabahar for trade .... CPEC is mostly a deal between Pakistan and China where China gets to build large expensive power plants under "no bid" arrangements. I suppose Gwadar and Chabahar might be competitors .. but certainly not for India/Afghanistan trade.

OSD | 7 years ago | Reply Indian dollars are speaking..

Buzzkill | 7 years ago | Reply @JHJanjua: "Chabar will never be operational as India does not have the expertise to build a world class sea port unlike China" If India can launch a successful mission to Mars, something the Chinese have not been able to do in 3 attempts, trust me it can build a small port.

Black Hawk | 7 years ago | Reply @JHJanjua: In one comment above you said "Chabar will never be operational as India does not have the expertise to build a world class sea port unlike China" AND in the very next comment you said "India’s dreams will be shattered as Iran is not a reliable ally , once port is built Iran will show its true colors" It seems that your fantasies are fighting with each other :)

Black Hawk | 7 years ago | Reply Just with a $500 million investment in Chabahar, India will checkmate the $46 billion investment of China in Pakistan. Just wait & watch.

Kickass | 7 years ago | Reply This man is turning into a real nut.

Thora Bora | 7 years ago | Reply Spitting venom for Pakistan means Pakistan is going in perfect direction.....so lets see!

hameed | 7 years ago | Reply Think tank and Analysts have said it, i'll just quote "chahabar port is one sanction away from becoming a fail project" or else China would have pursue it long back, Iran also does not have good ties with gulf nations so tell me how is that going to help going to middle east and African countries? Surely the gulf countries will impose hefty tariff or measurements as they did against Canada for not allowing emirates landing rights. And we're seeing Indian proxies in both pak and irans part of baluchistan..just the other day Iran arrested Saudi backed militants in Iran baluchistan..tell me if you still think chahabar is more beneficial to the Chinese, they did their homework.

khurram shahzad | 7 years ago | Reply Great Ghani must also request great country of india for accepting millions of Afghan refugees living in Pakistan. It will be great favor to small country of Pakistan from "Great" nations of Afghanistan and India.

JHJanjua | 7 years ago | Reply India does not have any experience of building large ports. That too in another country. India started before the Chinese did and not a stone has moved so far. Maybe they should subcontract to the Chinese.

khurram shahzad | 7 years ago | Reply Afghanistan & india are perfect match for each other. First is the country of backstabbers and other is country of liars.

Saad | 7 years ago | Reply Good for Afghanistan, they should now focus on developing Afghanistan for its people rather then looking for scapegoats to their incompetence. The Afghan people are a good people but their leadership is fragile. India can only be a neighbor, Pakistani and the Afghani people are connected by blood, sweat and tears.

Lolz | 7 years ago | Reply @Mayor: Does google map show the depth at the shores of both ports? In such affairs, costs do not only mean distance, it might be a bit complex for a layman. Gwadar is the most cost effective port in the region due to it location and the depth of waters at the shores.

Noble Tufail | 7 years ago | Reply We fully understand that Mr.Ghani's country is weak, therefore had no choice expect saying yes to Indian dollars. We are fighting this war on terror and eliminated good and bad taliban all inclusive. Now how old are you behaving dear Afghanistan as our ally in this war ??... the real short shortsightedness is fiddling around the sore relations between the two rivals. You could have maintained cordial relations with both India and Pakistan as an independent country.

mirestan | 7 years ago | Reply Wish India and Afghans the best wishes. MY advise to Afghans stay with Indian masters. But just remember Pakhtuns will take over soon, it is a matter of time. ,

Aminullah Adel | 7 years ago | Reply The good relationship between Afghanistan and India is not against Pakistan. It is the same as between Pakistan and China and Afghanistan always support that strong relationship between the two countries but do not know why Pakistan is angry on this relationship!!

Aminullah Adel | 7 years ago | Reply The good relationship between Afghanistan and India is not against Pakistan. It is the same as between Pakistan and China. I do not know why Pakistan is angry on this relationship!!

JHJanjua | 7 years ago | Reply Chabar will never be operational as India does not have the expertise to build a world class sea port unlike China , Gwadar will be active and operational while Chabar will be unused and this project will never be completed.

JHJanjua | 7 years ago | Reply India's dreams will be shattered as Iran is not a reliable ally , once port is built Iran will show its true colors and keep India at bay, making it India's biggest overseas investment as a biggest loss ever, also once sanctions are lifted on Iran , India has to pay for all the cheap oil imports and food for oil plan in which Iran supplied cheap oil to India at a great loss to it and now plans to recover all lost money.

TM | 7 years ago | Reply Ashraf Ghani will be on his knees with another one or two suicide bombings in Kabul. Further, Pakistan do not need either India or Afghanistan for its trade to central asian countries. China has offered a trade route through its province of sinkiang to Central asian countries. Pakistan can use that route for trade. No need for Afghanistan. Hence Pakistan should concentrate on Jihad to liberate Kashmir and suppress Baluch and Sindh insurgencies with Iron hand.

G. Din | 7 years ago | Reply @Ali Khanzada: " If it weren’t for the Pakistanis Mr Ghani and his children would be speaking Russian." Would that be a misfortune greater than you and your children speaking English? Russia, note how Pakistan views you and you thought you could do better than America befriending Pakistan. It is very hard to change basic nature.

Gemini | 7 years ago | Reply Thanks now please take all the refugees to India please.

Fa | 7 years ago | Reply Pathan on pathan trades lol

سے Shaam (Hanafi) | 7 years ago | Reply Pakistan is crazy, thinks piggybacking China will take care of all issues, the moment acidity attacks China, it would burp out Pakistan to abyss.

Aun | 7 years ago | Reply Great!! I think its time for Pakistan to offer hosting rights of 4mn Afghan refugees to India. I am sure its the best friendship gift India can offer to Afghanistan.

Asim | 7 years ago | Reply Only Southern India can do trade. It will be too costly for North.

Shuaib | 7 years ago | Reply It seems like Ghani is very concerned about Pakistan? We're okay with Chabahear, the only people who cannot digest it are Indians and Afghans themselves, quite simply because it is uneconomical. It seems our establishment is laughing at the $500 million wasted by India, haha!

Tanya Khan | 7 years ago | Reply Great what's the worry then Mr Prez.... Godspeed to you ....:)

Ali Khanzada | 7 years ago | Reply As a Pakistani it pains me that Mr Ghani would speak this way. If it weren't for the Pakistanis Mr Ghani and his children would be speaking Russian.

Vectra | 7 years ago | Reply @NY: That consideration no longer exists after Pakistan said no to both India and Afghanistan on transit trade.

Vectra | 7 years ago | Reply India and Afghanistan have nothing to worry now and whats good, they have both have now already signed tripartite agreement along with Iran i think some months back.

Mayor | 7 years ago | Reply @NY Have you taken any consideration in checking Google Maps? Chabar isn't that far from Gwadar. Moreover goods are passing through Iran a stable country than Pakistan. So our goods passing through Iran have 99.99% chance of reaching Afghanistan.

SYED | 7 years ago | Reply I like one thing about Ghani., By giving such statements, he has made it clear the position of Afghanistan towards Pakistan. For Pakistan; friend of your enemy is also enemy.

Nadeem | 7 years ago | Reply @NY: He's simply fooling himself. It shouldn't actually be a news on this paper.

Farhan | 7 years ago | Reply Good luck to India and Afghanistan on this front. Be warned, Iranians are not easy to negotiate with and will exact a heavy price for their participation

Acorn Guts | 7 years ago | Reply I hope they've exchanged best friends forever cards too, so adorable.

point | 7 years ago | Reply No matter what, we don't care so please think beyond Pakistan. Don't bring us into your every discussion and focus on your ownself.

NY | 7 years ago | Reply Has he taken into consideration the extra transportation costs the proposed route will Incur due to longer distance of travel? It is simple maths.

M. Emad | 7 years ago | Reply Chabahar Port (Iran) also economic for Afghanistan.

Jooma KK | 7 years ago | Reply Express tribune enough of such crap news lines... Do you really see such hypothetical news having more weight then alot of people lost their lives and so many are injured in train crash??? You are simply loosing your credibility.. why propagating such dramas???

Jooma KK | 7 years ago | Reply We wish both of you all the very best :) live and let us live happily..

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