Chabahar deal 'not finished'; Pakistan, China welcome: Iran

[Windjammer]

PTI | May 27, 2016, 06.53 PM IST

ISLAMABAD: The trilateral agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan on the strategic Chabahar port is "not finished" and Pakistan and China are welcome to join it, a media report today quoted Iranian envoy here as saying.

The Chabahar port agreement between Iran, India and Afghanistan is "not finished" and "not limited to these three countries", Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Mehdi Honerdoost said.

The offer to cooperate had first been extended to Pakistan and then China, implying neither had expressed interest, he said while speaking on Pakistan-Iran relations at the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad (ISSI), Dawn newspaper reported.

The envoy said that both are sister ports, and Chabahar port authorities would extend cooperation to Gwadar.

"The deal is not finished. We are waiting for new members. Pakistan, our brotherly neighbours and China, a great partner of the Iranians and a good friend of Pakistan, are both welcome. India was a good friend during the sanctions, the only country to import oil from us during sanctions," Honerdoost said.


The deal is still on the table for both Pakistan and China, assuring that "Chabahar is not a rival to Gwadar", Ahmed Saffee, a research fellow at the ISSI, quoted the Iranian envoy as saying.
On Monday, a "milestone" pact on the strategic Chabahar port in southern Iran which will give India access to Afghanistan and Europe bypassing Pakistan was signed by India and Iran.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...n-China-welcome-Iran/articleshow/52468411.cms

 

[shah1398]

Recently we have seen quite positive statements from Iran side. As a matter of fact they had never been so defensive while dealing even with US and seldom have seen so many clarification statements as they have given in recent near past with regards to Pakistan. Are the open accusations by ATs and Gulbadeen Hikmatyar making them nervous or what?

 

[Ghareeb_Da_Baal]

so, it is not outflanking Pak /China !

 

[SQ8]

The Iranians want to get along with us but at the same time have to reel in their territory being used for operations against us....... JUST as we have to reel in our territory being used against them.

We're better off dividing a solution to the Afghan problem rather than being at loggerheads with them over it.

 

[Turingsage]

Anyone who wants to invest in linking Chahbahar with Afghanistan and central asia is welcome. As an Indian I would welcome Pakistani and Chinese investment to make this route operational ASAP.
More the merrier

Mind you Pakistan would not even build a few miles of pipeline from the Iranian border to complete the last agreement it signed. That con Pakistan played on Iran by making them build their part of the pipeline and then asking Iran to pay for Pakistans part with no guarentee that Pakistan would even pay for the gas.

 

[Sabawoon_Noorzai]

"neither had expressed interest" lol

What do you expect him to say? What is in Chahbahar for Pakistan?

 

[kaykay]

While India will develop and upgrade the port and to invest in various sectors like refinery, fertilizer etc, Chinese and Japanese are to develop the new cities and economic zones near it.....Its an open opportunity for all....

 

[HAIDER]

Its strange , govt hide this news about Iran offer to join the trade transit. According to Iran govt, they made this offer to Pakistan and China before India and Afghanistan..........seems Pakistan trade policy is not regional centric...

 

[Genghis khan1]

According to Iran govt, they made this offer to Pakistan and China before India and Afghanistan

What did u expected, leave our port stranded and start investing in foreign port..

Ghar mein nahi hai danay ama chali bhonanay.

 

[farhan_9909]

Whats in it for Pakistan though i would want Pakistan to have land access to turkey through Iran

 

[HAIDER]

What did u expected, leave our port stranded and start investing in foreign port..

Ghar mein nahi hai danay ama chali bhonanay.

Not necessarily , countries explore to achieve there national interest through participating contracts and trade agreements.

 

[Stephen Cohen]

Of course MORE investment is always welcome

But It will benefit Iranian economy

However if Pakistan invests in Chahbahar ; what about Gwadar

And then there is the prospect of dealing and negotiating with Indians
because we are the Prime movers of Chahbahar

 

[Genghis khan1]

Pakistan to have land access to turkey through Iran

Was this idea brought recently by anyone, like in Gov ?

 

[HAIDER]

Gawadar is CPEC specific . That giant is not going anywhere. But, actually Pakistan has fast and better land route with Iran, roads and railway track. So, investment in Iranian port make no sense , but who knows govt always find something interesting.
For India, it is still be a expensive route. PN and China won't like Indian ship to come close to Gawadar port or even 70 mile radius.

 

[HAIDER]

India will use this port for Afghan transit point. After Indian spy fiasco, its red alert situation for Pakistan, China and may be for Iran