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Afghanistan-India Air Corridor bypassing Pakistan fails

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Afghanistan-India Air Corridor bypassing Pakistan fails
Posted By: News Deskon: August 17, 2017
E38D28DB-67B3-4D0B-A225-8C1524C0AFCF_cx0_cy10_cw0_w1023_r1_s.jpg

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KANDAHAR: Afghanistan’s plans to fly shipments from southern fruit growers to India have gone awry, leaving tons of grapes and melons to rot as officials scramble to add flights, while trading blame for the delays.

The problem illustrates the hurdles Afghanistan faces in rebuilding its strife-torn economy, a crucial step if it is to wean itself off billions of dollars in foreign aid annually.

Horticultural producers, who export nearly $360 million worth of goods each year, have long grappled with the challenges of transport in the mountainous nation.

The flights offered them a way around frequent border closures by neighboring Pakistan.

But the system has not worked as promised, with just a handful of flights having carried goods to India, causing losses for some producers in Kandahar, 500 km (310 miles) southwest of the capital, Kabul.

READ MORE: Afghanistan-India inch closer further
“We packed some 40 tons of fruit, mainly melons and grapes, but weeks passed without flights,” said Haji Saduddin, head of the region’s Kandahar Fruit Company. “We had to sell it for less than half price in the local market.”

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani this week ordered officials to coordinate more closely with the airlines to ensure every flight carried 80 to 100 tons of fruit, the presidential palace said in a statement, after he met business leaders on the issue.


Officials of the chamber of commerce in Kabul say they are trying to negotiate deals with at least one more Afghan airline, Kam Air, besides national carrier Ariana Afghan Airlines, in the effort to add more flights.

READ MORE: Rocket lands inside Indian Ambassador residence in Kabul
Since June 19, just one flight, carrying 60 tonnes of medicinal plants, has left Kandahar, Haji Nasrullah Zaheer, head of the city’s chamber of commerce, told Reuters. “It is fruit season in Kandahar, but the delicate fruit just rotted here due to lack of flights,” he said.

Fruit producers had long pressed for more air cargo services but disjointed planning and a lack of infrastructure, such as facilities for cold storage, had proved a stumbling-block.

Leaders in Kabul and New Delhi had trumpeted the plans as a way to avoid Pakistan’s strict limits on shipments between its neighbors, with which it occasionally has border disputes. Afghan officials are trading blame over the rotten fruit.

Ariana Afghan Airlines, which was to have coordinated flights through a subcontractor, told farmers in Kandahar its aircraft were too busy taking people to Makkah for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, Kandahar business official Zaheer said.

READ MORE: Good with India, Bad with Pakistan policy not benefiting Afghanistan, says Afghan Analyst
The problem occurred because a subcontractor had failed to provide a cargo aircraft, said Ariana President Mohammed Nader Omar, without identifying the company. “It wasn’t about flying people to Hajj, but a lack of management,” he told Reuters. “We are working to fix this.”

The plans provide for the government to compensate traders for losses, said Khan Jan Alokozay, an official of Afghanistan’s chamber of commerce, without naming a specific figure.

But for some, any compensation could be too little, too late. “A number of people borrowed money and started fruit businesses, but now their investment is gone,” said Saduddin, the fruit company head.
 
Afghanistan-India Air Corridor bypassing Pakistan fails
Posted By: News Deskon: August 17, 2017
E38D28DB-67B3-4D0B-A225-8C1524C0AFCF_cx0_cy10_cw0_w1023_r1_s.jpg

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KANDAHAR: Afghanistan’s plans to fly shipments from southern fruit growers to India have gone awry, leaving tons of grapes and melons to rot as officials scramble to add flights, while trading blame for the delays.

The problem illustrates the hurdles Afghanistan faces in rebuilding its strife-torn economy, a crucial step if it is to wean itself off billions of dollars in foreign aid annually.

Horticultural producers, who export nearly $360 million worth of goods each year, have long grappled with the challenges of transport in the mountainous nation.

The flights offered them a way around frequent border closures by neighboring Pakistan.

But the system has not worked as promised, with just a handful of flights having carried goods to India, causing losses for some producers in Kandahar, 500 km (310 miles) southwest of the capital, Kabul.

READ MORE: Afghanistan-India inch closer further
“We packed some 40 tons of fruit, mainly melons and grapes, but weeks passed without flights,” said Haji Saduddin, head of the region’s Kandahar Fruit Company. “We had to sell it for less than half price in the local market.”

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani this week ordered officials to coordinate more closely with the airlines to ensure every flight carried 80 to 100 tons of fruit, the presidential palace said in a statement, after he met business leaders on the issue.


Officials of the chamber of commerce in Kabul say they are trying to negotiate deals with at least one more Afghan airline, Kam Air, besides national carrier Ariana Afghan Airlines, in the effort to add more flights.

READ MORE: Rocket lands inside Indian Ambassador residence in Kabul
Since June 19, just one flight, carrying 60 tonnes of medicinal plants, has left Kandahar, Haji Nasrullah Zaheer, head of the city’s chamber of commerce, told Reuters. “It is fruit season in Kandahar, but the delicate fruit just rotted here due to lack of flights,” he said.

Fruit producers had long pressed for more air cargo services but disjointed planning and a lack of infrastructure, such as facilities for cold storage, had proved a stumbling-block.

Leaders in Kabul and New Delhi had trumpeted the plans as a way to avoid Pakistan’s strict limits on shipments between its neighbors, with which it occasionally has border disputes. Afghan officials are trading blame over the rotten fruit.

Ariana Afghan Airlines, which was to have coordinated flights through a subcontractor, told farmers in Kandahar its aircraft were too busy taking people to Makkah for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, Kandahar business official Zaheer said.

READ MORE: Good with India, Bad with Pakistan policy not benefiting Afghanistan, says Afghan Analyst
The problem occurred because a subcontractor had failed to provide a cargo aircraft, said Ariana President Mohammed Nader Omar, without identifying the company. “It wasn’t about flying people to Hajj, but a lack of management,” he told Reuters. “We are working to fix this.”

The plans provide for the government to compensate traders for losses, said Khan Jan Alokozay, an official of Afghanistan’s chamber of commerce, without naming a specific figure.

But for some, any compensation could be too little, too late. “A number of people borrowed money and started fruit businesses, but now their investment is gone,” said Saduddin, the fruit company head.
India should work with the Afghans to build up whatever infrastructure they require.
 
Ridiculously expensive way to move low cost goods across such a small distance. Afghanistan needs to mend fences with Pakistan and allow trade to flow its natural contours.
 
so what were they expecting to happen.
this drama was all about corruption nothing more
 
Ridiculously expensive way to move low cost goods across such a small distance. Afghanistan needs to mend fences with Pakistan and allow trade to flow its natural contours.


NEVER. They are our enemies. We need to keep well away from them.

Afghanistan-India Air Corridor bypassing Pakistan fails
Posted By: News Deskon: August 17, 2017
E38D28DB-67B3-4D0B-A225-8C1524C0AFCF_cx0_cy10_cw0_w1023_r1_s.jpg

Share0
Tweet



KANDAHAR: Afghanistan’s plans to fly shipments from southern fruit growers to India have gone awry, leaving tons of grapes and melons to rot as officials scramble to add flights, while trading blame for the delays.

The problem illustrates the hurdles Afghanistan faces in rebuilding its strife-torn economy, a crucial step if it is to wean itself off billions of dollars in foreign aid annually.

Horticultural producers, who export nearly $360 million worth of goods each year, have long grappled with the challenges of transport in the mountainous nation.

The flights offered them a way around frequent border closures by neighboring Pakistan.

But the system has not worked as promised, with just a handful of flights having carried goods to India, causing losses for some producers in Kandahar, 500 km (310 miles) southwest of the capital, Kabul.

READ MORE: Afghanistan-India inch closer further
“We packed some 40 tons of fruit, mainly melons and grapes, but weeks passed without flights,” said Haji Saduddin, head of the region’s Kandahar Fruit Company. “We had to sell it for less than half price in the local market.”

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani this week ordered officials to coordinate more closely with the airlines to ensure every flight carried 80 to 100 tons of fruit, the presidential palace said in a statement, after he met business leaders on the issue.


Officials of the chamber of commerce in Kabul say they are trying to negotiate deals with at least one more Afghan airline, Kam Air, besides national carrier Ariana Afghan Airlines, in the effort to add more flights.

READ MORE: Rocket lands inside Indian Ambassador residence in Kabul
Since June 19, just one flight, carrying 60 tonnes of medicinal plants, has left Kandahar, Haji Nasrullah Zaheer, head of the city’s chamber of commerce, told Reuters. “It is fruit season in Kandahar, but the delicate fruit just rotted here due to lack of flights,” he said.

Fruit producers had long pressed for more air cargo services but disjointed planning and a lack of infrastructure, such as facilities for cold storage, had proved a stumbling-block.

Leaders in Kabul and New Delhi had trumpeted the plans as a way to avoid Pakistan’s strict limits on shipments between its neighbors, with which it occasionally has border disputes. Afghan officials are trading blame over the rotten fruit.

Ariana Afghan Airlines, which was to have coordinated flights through a subcontractor, told farmers in Kandahar its aircraft were too busy taking people to Makkah for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, Kandahar business official Zaheer said.

READ MORE: Good with India, Bad with Pakistan policy not benefiting Afghanistan, says Afghan Analyst
The problem occurred because a subcontractor had failed to provide a cargo aircraft, said Ariana President Mohammed Nader Omar, without identifying the company. “It wasn’t about flying people to Hajj, but a lack of management,” he told Reuters. “We are working to fix this.”

The plans provide for the government to compensate traders for losses, said Khan Jan Alokozay, an official of Afghanistan’s chamber of commerce, without naming a specific figure.

But for some, any compensation could be too little, too late. “A number of people borrowed money and started fruit businesses, but now their investment is gone,” said Saduddin, the fruit company head.




Nothing to do with us. Not our problem. A problem for Afghans and indians. Let them sort it out.
 
India and Afghan should sort this out themselves and only time will tell if it's profitable for both or only India is doing to overcome it's jealousy.
 
Another baseless thread to please Pakistanis. :sarcastic:
 
?
says afghan and Indian media NOT Pakistan so more than enough now
Planes missing, fruits to India rot in Kabul
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-pape...-trade-facing-tough-times/article19447858.ece

http://www.tolonews.com/index.php/business/120-tons-fruit-waiting-reach-india-markets-air-cargo
The ACCI officials said a large amount of the fruit has been left to rot – 15 tons of which have waiting for loading for the past 15 days.

The air cargo transportation has started without prior preparations, the ACCI deputy chief Khanjan Alokozay said, calling the air cargo transportation a “failed process”.

“The World Trade Organization is not providing subsidies on Afghan exports because it is against the rules of the organization,” Alokozay told TOLOnews on Saturday.

Economic affairs analysts said Afghanistan got the World Trade Organization’s membership in a hurry and now it should do business with regional countries based on the WTO’s rules.

“Government opens a so-called way for investors in order to give a hope to the people. But at the end of the day, we see that investors bear the brunt of this flawed decision and their fruit wait for cargo flight for many days,” said Azrakhsh Hafizi, an economic affairs analyst.
 
Another baseless thread to please Pakistanis. :sarcastic:
How can we be pleased, when we have to give more aid from our pockets?
We can only be pleased, when Pakistan don't have to give transit aid to anyone.
 

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