World

Refusing to open India-Afghanistan road link, Pakistan asks for trade via Karachi port

Afghan president had earlier said Pakistan must allow Afghanistan direct trade access to India through Wagah

Web Desk May 03, 2015

PHOTO: ONLINE

Refusing to sign a motor vehicle agreement and to open up the road link for India and Afghanistan, Pakistan has asked India to carry out trade via the Karachi port, sources said on Sunday.

Indian sources said that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani told the Pakistani leadership that if they do not open up the road to India, they will deny Pakistan access to Central Asia.

Read: Pakistan must allow Afghanistan direct trade access to India through Wagah: Ghani

"Pakistan wants to expect Afghanistan to be open as far as their access to Central Asia is concerned and it’s very natural for Afghanistan to expect from out Pakistan neighbours to open up," Chief Executive Officer of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah said, while speaking exclusively to CNN-IBN.

Read: India not threatened by Pakistan-China economic corridor: envoy

"If Pakistan wants access to Central Asia, it must respond in kind," he said.

This article originally appeared on IBN Live.

COMMENTS (47)

Tore | 9 years ago | Reply @Tore: The poverty in India is weel documented, and India is no Japan or South Korea, Still better than Pakistan

Tore | 9 years ago | Reply @Snisha: You said " Lol you are not even allowed visa to india. How can you fake seeking poor everywhere? India has 21% poor. Rest 79% are middle class and elite class." So you are claiming that India has suddenly become a country of middle class people ? Nope. World sees India as a poor country , cause the poverty is so high and so visible in India. I am Europan citizen, when did India started to ban entry visa for Europeans to India Snisha ? The poverty in India is weel documented, and India is no Japan or South Korea, You said "nobody is threatening pakistan. Your biggest threat is you yourself not others. " Recently a video was published on Internet of Indias security advisor, Ajit Devol, he was telling in his speach that India was sponsering insurgency in Pakistan via groups from Afghanistan and in Pak Balochistan. And these groups are the biggest security risk for Pakistan today from inside.

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افغان ميهن | 9 years ago | Reply @ Ibrar Afghanistan sent six cadets for training in Pakistan as a token to appease Pakistan, don't blow it out of proportion. Nothing has changed.

افغان ميهن | 9 years ago | Reply @ Mohib Khan We are not brothers, never were never will be. Sharing a religion does not make us brothers. Ashraf Ghani tried being a statesman and now its back to realpolitik.

افغان ميهن | 9 years ago | Reply Tit for tat. Ashraf Ghani demonstrating his Pashtunwali.

Ibrar | 9 years ago | Reply @woody: You can not always perceive others as being graceful or sweet spirited without being the same. More over the meaning of ethics tend to alter when considered on a political canvas. Pakistan would love to help Afghanistan(it has had Afghan refugees in their millions for 3 decades) if India can demonstrate positive attitude and particularly stop using Afghan soil for a proxy war. It is encouraging though that the current Afghan leadership is showing signs of moving in the right direction and being more insightful of the situation. Understanding that Pakistan is indispensable for peace in the area they have slowed down or revised their defence agreements with India as initiated by Karzai and preference is now being given to Pakistan for military training of their personnel. However a two way Afghan-India trade via Pakistan will remain a dilemma until India shows a good spiritedness and grace to resolve its longstanding issues with its neighbour.

mohib khan | 9 years ago | Reply If Afghanistan want a road link with India through Pak it has to sign another contract. The old one is access through port Karachi. pakistan will consider the options for feasibility the old myth of Afghanistan and pak brother ship has been blown by Karzai. If Afghanistan want to block the road to the east they are welcome but at present Pak is not using those links whereas the back bone of Afghanistan trade is through the transit trade.No more Afghanistan we will talk as neighbors no spoilt child status anymore.

Third Umpire | 9 years ago | Reply @ajeet: It is a wishful thinking that Balochistan will be free. India should take care of its Eastern parts where several insurgencies are going on for years.

Aschraful Makhlooq PK | 9 years ago | Reply Is there any guarantee of this that suppose if Pakistan allows India-Afghanistan road link for trade then India will not export/smuggle any mass destruction and dangerous weapons to Afghanistan which may/shall be used against Pakistan?????

Snisha | 9 years ago | Reply @Tore: Lol you are not even allowed visa to india. How can you fake seeking poor everywhere? India has 21% poor. Rest 79% are middle class and elite class. India also has third largest number of billionaire in the world. "Pakistan has less poverty", despite India's poverty, india's per capita income is more than per capita income of Pakistan.what does that say? "And don't threaten pakistan". nobody is threatening pakistan. Your biggest threat is you yourself not others. @rizwan maybe you are unaware india has already up started its relation with increase in oil imports despite america telling us to hold. This is not Manmohan Singh govt to lisen to obama but modi govt. And even Manmohan Singh had refused america till they gave india civil nuclear deal and entry in many elite groups in exchange of dropping oil imports from iran.

Aschraful Makhlooq PK | 9 years ago | Reply "Refusing to sign a motor vehicle agreement and to open up the road link for India and Afghanistan, Pakistan has asked India to carry out trade via the Karachi port, sources said on Sunday." Much the best,excellent and august step taken by Pakistani government because India deserves it and treat India in the that most suitable way in which India deserves because India is an untrustworthy and incredible Pakistan's neighbor and leaves no stones unturn to harm Pakistan in any forms and manifestations whenever India gets opportunity.....

citizen | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan and Afghanistan need to realize who their real enemy has been and the interference in defence ,economic matters internal fights and blamegame is of no use. policy of development now needed

Tore | 9 years ago | Reply To Indians and Afghans readers, please dont give threats to Pakistan, it will not sort out. India is building Chabbar port, then why all these noises. You say you dont need land route through Pakistan cause you have Chabbar port then why you are complaining and threating. If India is moving forward then so is Pakistan. Its less poverty in Pakistan then in India. Whereever you go In India you see poor people...... Dont point your finger at Pakistan. Dont threat Pakistan. To Afghans: You people are the most unthankful people on this planet earth. Pakistan have for 40 years given shelter to millions of Afghans and you guys just complain and threat Pakistan. You are welcome to trade through Chabbar, and please leave Pakistan. Pakistan can fine do trade with Central Asia and Russia via China and Iran. So dont use that language towards Pakistan. Personally i think Pakistan should fine ways to transport Afghan good to India, using Pakistani drivers in Pakistan, but India should not been allowed to export via Pakistani terrotory until Kashmir issu is resolved.

Rizwan | 9 years ago | Reply Afghans have no other option. As much as they talk about chah Bahar, it is in Irab, and Iran is under international sanctions. Even india won't touch Iran after the state department in the USA told India and Pakistan to stop their ties with Iran. Also, chah Bahar port is a 1500km detour. All routes there lead through Taliban controlled territory. The costs of transportation and security will make afghan products unprofitable, and will make indian goods too expensive for afghans. The afghans will just end up buying cheaper goods from pakistan.

PrasadDeccani | 9 years ago | Reply @Muhammad: Yes, Abdullah Abdullah prefers India to Pakistan just as Mr.Ghani's preference is the other way. Statement about not opening trade route to Pakistan was made by Mr.Ghani, not Mr.Abdullah Abdullah.

ajeet | 9 years ago | Reply Once e free Baluchistan, we will get access.

Zahid | 9 years ago | Reply Don't follows the Karzai policy, Abdullah Abdullah is indian man sitting in Kabul Don't over turn be on line mr ghani Don't forget Pakistan is the only country in.the world who safe Afghanistan

woody | 9 years ago | Reply @Ibrar:

@woody: .. Afghan leadership also understand the significance of India-Pak issues and will therefore be reluctant to give Pakistan any medicine as you mention in your comment. ..

While some of what you say maybe correct - nothing justifies cutting off a land route to Afghanistan - that action is nothing other than mean spirited and unethical. I suspect the only way to adjust this decision is if Afghanistan demonstrates it's willing to be equally mean spirited and unethical.

Khattak | 9 years ago | Reply Very well said Asma Tanoli, in fact Pakistan is trading 127 items with India through Attari-Wahga, then why deny Afghanistan the same. The purpose should not be controlling Afghanistan relations with India, they have mutual relations from centuries, we came in between only 67 years ago. We have developed a habit of invoking our nuclear status & threats after every 2 seconds & our Muslim status where ever its fits our immature agendas. Sher Shah has the vision to build this road from Kabul to Calcutta & look at us how low have we gone, solving Kashmir problem by denying access to routes & trade.

Haider | 9 years ago | Reply @asma tanoli Bcz Pakistan doesnt want to hurt its exports for direct link btw India and Afghanistan.... So giving an alternative which India will never opt

waseem | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan has already given access to Afghanistan to export to India through lamd route all we have declined is Indian exports to Afghanistan through lamd routes,and the resolution of that very much dependomg upon India Pakistan relatuonships This is far below the grace of Afghan president to act as Indian attorneh

utpal | 9 years ago | Reply @kickass: Are you think that Pakistan is a country ? Whole world knows pak is a hatachary of terrorists.

Umer | 9 years ago | Reply @Asma Tanoli, Technically you are correct. But India is obligated to hold a plebiscite in Kashmir according to the UN resolutions. UN stuff is not always followed in the real word

Rao | 9 years ago | Reply @Muhammad: Manufactured Afghan Products and its raw materials will be consumed in Pakistan and perhaps more in India and shortest to Indian markets will be via land route. It Is common sense to know why then it becomes cost effective. Pakistan has simply tried to treat Afghans less than equal and turn into a pliable client state. That is why they want to put a squeeze on Afghanistan. This trick is not going to fool anyone. That is why, Afghanistan demands transit facility via land route via Pakista. Don't underestimate Afghanistan. Their history is millenniums old, much much more than that of Pakistan! they are proud and very nationalistic and can give a tough time to any one perceived as a hostile friend or enemy. So Pakistan better treat them as an ancient people worth respecting too. So please read a bit of history of Fghanistan and India.

Umer | 9 years ago | Reply Afganistan already has access to the Indian market through Wagah. India can not export through Wagah. India is most welcome to go through Karachi or Iran to access the Afganistan / Central Asian market. India needs this land route to be successful in trade with central Asia. They will have to settle disputes with Pakistan to get that access. If not, they will just leave central Asia for China to trade and profit. Pakistan has this leverage, why would they give it up without anything in return? As for Afghanistan, they know the situation. They are just making noises to please India.

Muhammad | 9 years ago | Reply @asma tanoli: Just to keep India and world reminding of the serious issues on which we need to see some progress first. Yes by not allowing transit through Wagha it may hurt to some degree but an alternative road network with other countries will make up for that loss pretty well.

Meghana | 9 years ago | Reply @Muhammad: Pakistan is stuck on kashmir issue. India is never going to change its stand nor do I see pakistan comprising. As far as pakistan route being shorter and saving millions. That doesn't apply to us. Because we find it dangerous route and will have to spend millions extra on security and still don't have garantee if it will be safe from millitants or political pressure in time of crisis. It's most risky route for us. Iran is a friend, lot safer, no spending billions on security. "Pakistan doesn't require any route through india" India is 30 states 7union territories. Equivalent to 30 countries with billion plus population,fastest growing economy etc. We don't need to go anywhere. The world comes to us. Biggest and promising economy in today's date are america,China and india. Even in Saarc maximum trade happens to and from india. India already is building India's North east- myammamar-thailand highway to connect Asean countries. Largest coastline,sea routes to Middle east, Africa. As well as chabbar port to Central asia. Our interests are secured. Your country wants to isolate and stunt its growth economically, nobody can help it. But surounding countries have already found different ways to bypass pakistan and grow. Not only will they grow. They will respond in tit for tat. Like Ghani denying tajikstan route.

punjabi | 9 years ago | Reply @Ch. Allah Daad: you are wrong. Pakistan is a sovereign nation! it can allow or disallow anyone from using its ports.

bilal | 9 years ago | Reply @Thunder: That's your (Ghanis) perspective, but not the complete picture. As long as the hostilities between India and Pakistan remain due to KASHMIR, how can the region expect to reap benefits from trade?

Dishum | 9 years ago | Reply Old Pakistani tactic of cuttings its own nose to spite its face. Business like water goes down the path of least resistance. You can continue beating the drums about your most valuable location while opportunities slip away. Maybe you are getting used to living on alms and loans.

asma tanoli | 9 years ago | Reply Not only Pakistan is obliged to allow transit under the UN conventions but also under the WTO laws. By not allowing transit through Wagah, Pakistan is hurting its own economy more than anyone else's. What is the logic of allowing imports through Karachi but not Lahore?

Rao | 9 years ago | Reply Afghanistan dare not alienate nuclear armed Pakistan because of its sizzle, economic and military strength. This is based on the basis of realism. Again it is reinforced by the conviction that both are Islamic countries. They have more in common than with India.

Thunder | 9 years ago | Reply "Breakfast in Delhi, lunch in Peshawar and dinner in Kabul, that's the world we seek" Afghan President Ashraf Ghani

Muhammad | 9 years ago | Reply @Meghana: Wagha, through which trade between Afghanistan and India is being sought, is not a sea port and does not come under international rules and can be denied. Hopefully trade through this dry route would flourish once India -Pakistan can remove some road blocks in their relations. India will save from a much shorter route. Countries should learn from China-Pakistan economic corridor which once in operation would save Chinese millions of miles on long term. Pakistan does not require any route through India while, given the situation is beginning to unfold, it will be in Afghanistan's interest to open its routes to Pakistan and China.

kickass | 9 years ago | Reply @Ch. Allah Daad: My God thank you for informing that Afghanistan is a country. Who told you this?

ragz | 9 years ago | Reply @huma: I think its reverse. Pakistan is denying access so the afghans are threatening u guys..

Ibrar | 9 years ago | Reply @woody: Professor Ghani, despite his CE influence, is unlikely to follow Karzai's policies which had only deteriorated Pak-Afghanistan relations. Both countries need each other, Afhganistan more so, and both understand that as is reflected by their statements and interactions. Professor Ghani during his recent Indian visit, as opposed to his predecessor, has said nothing that should embarrass Pakistan. I think he spent most of his tour in reassuring India that his country has not moved India down on their priority list. Afghanistan is helping Pakistan and as reflected in their new negotiations with Taleban, Pakistan is doing its best to facilitate a compromise. Afghan leadership also understand the significance of India-Pak issues and will therefore be reluctant to give Pakistan any medicine as you mention in your comment. I am afraid for now you will have to keep dreaming.

Meghana | 9 years ago | Reply We already have chabar port in in iran and road routes from there to afganistan and central Asia. And Ghani has clearly said if they don't give them direct route to india. They would not give pakistan direct route to Tajikistan. What afganistan wants, is between pakistan and afganistan. India is ok with whatever route. But we have already secured our interests through iran and Bahrain. @huma afganistan has chabar port access to sea from iran they are not dependent on you.

Ch. Allah Daad | 9 years ago | Reply @huma: Pakistan cannot deny Kabul's access to its ports as per International laws because Afghanistan is a landlocked country.

Tyggar | 9 years ago | Reply @huma: The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea now gives a landlocked country a right of access to and from the sea without taxation of traffic through transit states. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea now gives a landlocked country a right of access to and from the sea without taxation of traffic through transit states.

Muhammad | 9 years ago | Reply Opening of trade road through Pakistan to India does not make sense when India is not even registering the significance of its disputes with Pakistan. Abdullah Abdullah's tactics to act on behalf of India are understandable but unlikely to work.His focus should be more on achieving peace with Taleban.

kamal | 9 years ago | Reply If that's what India Afghanistan wants then Chabahar is available...Que is different here, if Pakistan wants access through Afghanistan then it must give access through Pakistan.

huma | 9 years ago | Reply if Afghanistan denies access to central asia than pakistan should deny Kabul access to its ports.

woody | 9 years ago | Reply Indian sources said that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani told the Pakistani leadership that if they do not open up the road to India, they will deny Pakistan access to Central Asia. . That should get their attention. Most don't like Karsai but he did figure out that giving Pakistan a taste of it's own medicine was a good way to get them to change policy - Karsai providing TTP sanctuary is one of the prime reason that Pakistan started to evaluate it's own terrorist policy and make friendly overtures to new govt in Afghanistan.

Zaffar | 9 years ago | Reply Thank you! We will use Chabahar

G. Din | 9 years ago | Reply Way to go, Afghanistan!

miristan | 9 years ago | Reply 100% support Pakistan's stand. Love you Pakistan,

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