Afghanistan flag. PHOTO: AFP/ FILE
According to the spokesperson for Afghanistan's Ministry of Commerce and Industries, Iran will allow land-locked Afghanistan to use the port to export goods like fruit and carpets to India and other countries.
"We want to export to central Asia and Europe, India wants to use the port to send goods to Afghanistan," Wahidullah Ghazikhel said.
Afghanistan currently relies on the port of Karachi in Pakistan for the bulk of its sea exports.
But that leaves traders vulnerable to political disputes between the United States and Pakistan, which has closed its border with Afghanistan at least twice over recent years, cutting U.S. military supplies to Afghanistan, as well as routine trade.
"If the Pakistani government's relationship with the United States goes bad, this impacts our traders," Ghazikhel said.
In the most recent disruption on the Afghan-Pakistani border, private transport companies were banned from moving Afghan goods to Karachi, delaying containers for about three months.
Not only did the contents, including milk and eggs, spoil, but companies were also charged a total of $10 million for renting storage space for their delayed containers, he said.
"We are very interested in exporting to European countries and working on other ways (that avoid Pakistan's port)," the spokesperson said.
Millions of dollars have been invested in companies that aim to export "premium" fruit such as pomegranate, prized by the health-conscious in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Afghanistan also exports many other types of fresh and dried fruit, saffron and carpets. But although it sees agriculture as a driving force in its economy, Afghanistan continues to rely on imports for most of its food.
COMMENTS (44)
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Afghanistan has been a problem for pakistan. A headache we have to deal with every few decades. The pashtuns on this side of the border have to decide whether they want prosperity or they want the taliban style living.
@alex
Loved it mate!
Wasn't your "country" invaded for refusing to give Osama bin Laden to the US? Anyway, Afghanistan is rarely mentioned in a sentence without "Taliban" or "death" so you're no meadow of flowers either.
@Alex, Well said Bro!
I am glad with the news. . We get lot of illegal stuff at Karachi port. Now drugs will go somewhere else! Good luck to Iran!
@alex
Well said Bro!
unfortunately any route not using Pakistan shall always remain expensive, so any agreement i am sure will not effect the goods trading between Pakistan & Afghanistan can occur so chill guys.....!
@Affan good. hopefully they export drugs frm iran now..
Drug exporting is better than exporting terrorists!
@Strategic Asset: @Naresh: Not fully accurate. . Chah Bahar is connected to Zaranj by the existing Chabahar -> Iranshahr -> Zahedan -> Milak/Zabol route. From Zaranj/Zabol to Delaram in Afghanistan, Highway 606 has been built by India’s Border Roads Organization (BRO). Delaram is a at a confluence of major highways and it is possible to go to anywhere in Afghanistan or the Central Asian Republics from there. . The afore-mentioned roads are already operating. On the Iranian side, all the roads existed previously. On the Afghan side, the BRO reduced travel time on the previous route from 14 to 2 hours. As per Iran’s Eastern Corridor Plan, this road will now have railways running alongside. The BRO is exploring a similar rail track on the Afghan side of Highway 606. . My comments were restricted to the Port of Chah Bahar ONLY! . The roads deveoped by the Indians are in addition to the Modernization of the Port of Chah Bahar. . Cheers
good. hopefully they export drugs frm iran now..
Sir, your abhorrent comment suggests that a, Partition violence was one sided and that b, local Pakistanis are descendants of Turkish and Arab invaders. ... While it is a wonder as to why ET would let your factually incorrect and offensive comment slide, I'd like to ask you what the percentage of Muslims in Indian Punjab or Delhi is today. You will find that it is 1.2% (down from 60%) and 11% (down from 33%). Partition violence was a terrible event concentrated in the only part of Pakistan with a large non Muslim minority, the Punjab. It led to the removal of Muslims from East Punjab and Hindus/Sikhs from West Punjab. Kindly stop reading BJP's guide book to 1947 and read Stanley Wolpert's ''A Shameful Flight'' ... Now, as for your second and even more preposterous claim, please google one ''Raja Parvaiz Ashraf''. Yes, former Pak Prime Minister, and a total Rajput. Unless you feel Rajputs are Arabs, your second statement seems to have collapsed on its head. ... ET: Please don't allow such narrow minded haters a free hand. They belong in the dark reaches of TOI and not here where enlightened debate is the only reason I comment at all. This individual doesn't even know that India has its own ''Evacuee Property Act'', the Enemy Property Act. A sad joke at a historian but an even sadder excuse for a sane, rational and progressive human being. God knows we need more of those. ... Thanks for the opportunity to respond.
@refugee: You Afghans have been living in a pipedream and saying the same things for centuries. Look at your country today and go back 500 years, it's all the same. You have no future and your words carry no weight. Continue living in fools paradise. Afghanistan with its small population, tiny economy, and close-to-zero army can do nothing to Pakistan. We are not sleeping and know how to deal with you, just to let you know.
pakistan had around 25% hindu-sikh population at the time of partition.they had more than 50% lands& businesses.they have been murdered or killed or driven away in millions.now they are less than 1.5% of present pak's population.their property has either illegally been usurped or snatched away illegally by the illegitimate state of pak by a voidable act known as EVACUEE PROPERTY ACT.rest of the land was owned by descendents of arab& turkish invaders. 25% of present population of pak should come to nearly 4.5 crores.so pak can still accomodate another( 4.5crore-0.3crore or 3 million=4.2crore)42 million refugees. as a token of its sincerity to muslim ummah,pak should take in yemeni,syrian,somalian, burmese rohingya as well as stranded pakis in bangladesh at least upto the level of your genocide.now you know why pak is in such doldrums-it is the curse of the dead & persecuted, who loved their motherland, but were brutally removed from it,before their god ordained time. you might be a 5 time namaazi,or believe yourself to be a mard e momin,but now u know y your prayers are not being answered. bhaaijaan ab aap samajh gayein honge aapki duaaein kyun kabool nahin ho rahi hein.allah aapko akal bakshei. till then aamein....allah hafiz.... goodbye
@Naresh: Not fully accurate. . Chah Bahar is connected to Zaranj by the existing Chabahar -> Iranshahr -> Zahedan -> Milak/Zabol route. From Zaranj/Zabol to Delaram in Afghanistan, Highway 606 has been built by India's Border Roads Organization (BRO). Delaram is a at a confluence of major highways and it is possible to go to anywhere in Afghanistan or the Central Asian Republics from there. . The afore-mentioned roads are already operating. On the Iranian side, all the roads existed previously. On the Afghan side, the BRO reduced travel time on the previous route from 14 to 2 hours. As per Iran's Eastern Corridor Plan, this road will now have railways running alongside. The BRO is exploring a similar rail track on the Afghan side of Highway 606.
Afghanistan should also make agreement with Iran to move Afghan refugees from Pakistan to Iran.
Some people are burning with hate & jealousy. They cant tolerate Afghans having access to a port. That explains why we are in such a miss. As a Pashtun living in Pakistani side of Durand line it gives me an immense joy that the trade through silk route will be revived for the prosperity of whole region. Turkmenistan has started construction of Rail link to Afghanistan & Tajikistan linking China & Europe. So the dynamics of the region are changing rapidly. I request my fellow Pashtuns to get up from sleep as the sun is rising & earn respect & freedom in comity of nations.
Yet one more factor that boosts Indian popularity in Afghanistan ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ And punctures the Pakistani image .......
@Proud Pakistani: "You Indians really don’t understand the ground reality at all." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ In addition what I dont understand is what is it that you are proud of?
and what would Afghanistan export....can anybody tell me...it has opium and a bit of dry fruits. ..only.
Good for Afghanistan and region, every nation should have more options to be economically independent so that it should not be hostage to any one particular country. Economic stability and independence is first step towards peace and happiness. Afghanistan has every right to explore more options to develop its economy same as Pakistan is using its rights to develop its economy with help of China.
Well done Afghanistan, going through all the above comments I can see most of the readers are not happy with these positive developments happening in Afghanistan but who cares! We are moving towards prosperity and stability and soon Afghanistan will be one of the best nations.. hu-hum its not a fantasy or dream like iran-pakistan pipeline or the hundreds of dams proposed to be build in pakistan back in 90's and yet its construction work to begin this project of ours is a Reality.
The good news is that Afghanistan is becoming less dependent on Pakistan day by day. And, Pakistan is losing friends in the region. I say it again, Pakistan is losing friends! It worries me a lot as a Pakistani myself. Yes, China is our all weather friend but, you shouldn't rely on a super power for the rest of your life to be your sole friend, that too, at a time where TTP has already done a significant damage to the Chinese interests in Pakistan and not to mention the Ughar Muslims are also playing it's role in it. Super powers are known to be the biggest exploiters! One more thing, Chinese will also try not be harsh on Afghans either. Chinese are not stupid enough to ignore the more than 1 trillion $ worth of minerals next door.
@Proud Pakistani:
Your pride about your country is misplaced. Don't worry you country is soon going to fall into an abyss it created for itself.
Why are Pakistanis commenting here so upset, like a spurned , unwanted lover, at economic relations between Afganistan and Iran ?
@Javelin: . Sour grapes. The Iranian port was built with Indian help – primarily because it is in India’s interest to keep the Chinese at bay. This becomes imperative because of your gift of the Gwadar port to your all weather friend the Chinese. Welcome to the 21st century from your 7th century mindset. . I trust you are refering to the Iranian Port of Chah Bahar. . This port was made operational by the Iranians so that Ships laden with Cargoes for Iran would be able to discharge their cargoes in Chah Bahar - thus obviating the need to pay very heavy War Risk Premiums applicable to Ships entering the Persian Gulf - which would then be transported Overland to the rest of Iran. . India is only helping Iran to improve-modernize the Port of Chah Bahar i.e. possibly deeping the port, providing newer and heavy lifting Cranes etc. . Cheers
@Tanner: What is the relevance of this port to the refugees? Are you saying that Afghans are permanence fly beholden to you due to the fact that Pakistan took in some refugees in lieu of money from UN as well as billions of dollars from USA, KSA nad UAE to support the Afghan resistance to Soviets? If landlocked Afghans find any outlet in the world besides Pakistan, they are somehow not entitled to it?
You need o realize that Afghanistan is a sovereign country not a 5th province of Pakistan and there is a limit to which you can bully them using a passage to the port.
If you feel, sir, that Apples can sustain the economy of a nation of 40 million, then I think you shouldn't be advising me on how to feel, rather eating some nuts to increase your pathetically lacking grey matter.
No objections from Pakistan , although using Iranian under present geopolitical situation impractical.
@Arvand: You Indians really don't understand the ground reality at all. 70% of the Pashtun population of the world lives in Pakistan, and Pakistan is a nation founded by Pashtuns, along with Punjabi, Kashmiri, Sindhi, Baloch, and other Muslims in this area. The govt of Afghanistan does not represent Pashtuns, infact, along with US/Israeli/Indian complicity, the Karzai govt is commiting genocide against Pashtun people in Afghanistan. Don't interfere in the affairs of Muslim countries for your own ends. Muslims will always be brothers, no matter what country they are from. India is going to lose all its strategic depth in Afghanistan next year, this is why they are not investing anymore. Pack up your bags and get out of Muslim lands. If you want to help Muslims, arrest Modi and the other Hindu terrorists in India who are oppressing Muslim Indians.
@Lol: "A nation with virtually no exports, no central writ outside Kabul, wants a fantasy port for the 40 apples it exports. Bravo for Afghan fantasies" Sour grapes. The Iranian port was built with Indian help - primarily because it is in India's interest to keep the Chinese at bay. This becomes imperative because of your gift of the Gwadar port to your all weather friend the Chinese. Welcome to the 21st century from your 7th century mindset.
Pakhtuns on this side of the border want nothing to do with your nation of dust and rubble. Pakhtuns are over represented in the Pak military, the civil service, and produce more Pashto literature/music/dance than your state, which has singlehandedly ruined the name of Pakhtuns everywhere. The economy of KPK alone is more than your Afghanistan. Please mind your rocks and leave us alone. ......... Pakistan Zindabad.
Now u talking man ask Iranian to give to wheat, basmati rice and medical like peshawer and check how afghans even shia afghhans living in iran and how been treated and how much u been benefited from Pakistan since 1947....
Those 3-million refugees which you are referring to, they are living in their own country. Half of Afghanistan has been under Pakistan occupation for more than 6 decades. Thanks but no thanks for illegally making settlements on Afghan lands. go back to Punjab, the borders between Afghanistan and Pakistan is the Sind River.
A nation with virtually no exports, no central writ outside Kabul, wants a fantasy port for the 40 apples it exports. Bravo for Afghan fantasies. A reality check, if this was possible, it would have been achieved before Afghanistan collapsed in the 1980's, and especially while Daud Khan was in power and Pakistan-Afghan border skirmishes were a daily occurrence.
This a great step from afghanistan and iran and iran port development will boost the regional trade and can bypass gwadar port.
It's blessing in disguise, please ask Iran to accommodate Afghan 3-million refugees living in Pakistan as well, we already had enough. Than you again our Iranian brothers for such a timely assistance.
Thats the trump card Pakistan had, didn't it. It was the sole entry/exit point into Afghanistan.
Although Western countries will not use this route, others will, especially India, which actually built the port in Iran for exactly this purpose!
Now India has an ever open entry/exit point into Afghanistan, without passing through Pakistan.
As a sovereign state, Afghanistan has every right to maintain trade agreements with any state on any matter. . What is interesting, though, is that when Pakistan and Afghanistan were deeply antagonistic towards one another during the Pashtunistan crisis (1950's-1960's), Afghanistan still relied entirely on Karachi. . The fact is that Southern Afghanistan has little infrastructure linking it to Iran. . Iran is also hardly less volatile given that Israel is threatening to attack every other day, and it faces a barrage of sanctions. . Afghanistan also has any exports at this point. . So basically, what comes of this? Nothing.