Chabahar Port lures Afghan traffic away from Karachi

[313ghazi]

What you mean "Soon"? 3 millions Afghan refugees live in Iran...

Then you already know the pain.

 

[Fledgingwings]

Looks like pakistan is finally getting rid of that transit trade gamble.

 

[BATMAN]

No its American and British traffic.

 

[Safriz]

Thats just great news. They should trade using Iran and india joint Port at Chahbahar. We should build the fence and forget about Afghanistan. Let Iran and India deal with them.

 

[Lucky Breeze]

Now for the hate of Pakistan, Northern-alliance will make suffer the whole afghan people, forcing them to pay three times more for imported goods.

 

[925boy]

Not surprised. Pakistan must prove it is stable and consistent in dealing with Afghanistan's business or else Iran will take more control. Same thing with taliban safe havens- If pakistan stops "managing" them, Iran will take them over. Its not that i like Iran tbh. I just love smart, crafty, patient world players, and Iran plays very smart. people who are mad at Iran are only made because Iran has out-played them. face it. pakistan might have sunni and pashtun links to afghanistan, but Iran will try and use trade,education and cultural links/benefits and stability to draw afghanistan closer to her. Afghanistan for the most part has to choose Iran or Pakistan right? So if Pakistan isnt "suitable" for Afghanistan for whatever reason, Iran is next in play. just sayin..

 

[El Sidd]

Oh thank God

This is the best News of the day.

 

[Hyperion]

Excellent. Now let's make it 100%. Second step, send all coalition shit from Chabahar too. After that is done, let's send all the Afghans back home, via Chabahar!

 

[My-Analogous]

A scenic part of Iran's strategic Chabahar Port, which will serve a growing volume of Afghan traffic. Photo: AFP
South AsiaTrade
Chabahar Port lures Afghan traffic away from Karachi

Economic blow for Pakistan as its maritime transit role is diminished

By F.M. Shakil February 2, 2018 2:43 AM (UTC+8)
Afghanistan has shifted 80% of its cargo traffic from Pakistan’s Karachi seaport to Iran’s Bandar Abbas and Chabahar ports. The move comes two months after Chabahar, barely 100 kilometers from Pakistan’s Gwadar port, was inaugurated. The shift, prompted in part by a new trade tariff imposed by Islamabad, is expected to greatly reduce Pakistan’s role in the transit of Afghan goods.

Pakistani business leaders believe that more Afghan trade will eventually shift to the strategic Chabahar Port, as it is Iran’s closest sea link to the Indian Ocean. The first phase of Shahid Beheshti Port in the Sistan-Balochistan province was commissioned last year. It is expected that US$5 billion worth of Afghan trade will be conducted solely through the tripartite Chabahar Port – sponsored jointly by India, Iran, and Afghanistan – once it starts feeding the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

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In mid-November last year, Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah was quoted by the media as saying that Afghanistan was no longer dependent on Pakistan for the shipment of goods as it can now use Iran’s Chabahar Port for this purpose.

The current fiscal year has seen a US$2 billion drop in trade with Afghanistan due to frequent border shutdowns, military skirmishes and the new trade tariff. The trade volume, which stood at US$ 2.5 billion in 2016, has gradually declined to US$500 million following the deterioration of relations between the South Asian neighbors.

“The leadership of both countries should not mingle politics with trade and discourage the use of bilateral trade as a leverage to settle political and regional disputes,” Zia Ul Haq Sarhadi, director of the Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PAJCCI), told Asia Times. He attributed the decline to heightened tensions on the border, tariffs and Chabahar port, where he claimed India offered huge incentives for Afghan traders.

“On a reciprocal basis, Afghanistan opened a second aerial corridor for India, enabling her to establish a direct trade link between Mumbai and Kabul. The first flight took 40 tons of dried and fresh fruits and medicinal herbs to India through the aerial route,” Sarhadi said.

The US$2 billion reduction in bilateral trade with Afghanistan is expected to adversely hit the country’s economy, which is already reeling under a widening trade deficit and worsening balance of payments. Data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) in December last year point to a dismal economic outlook.

The US$2 billion reduction in bilateral trade with Afghanistan will adversely hit the country’s economy, which is already reeling under a widening trade deficit and worsening balance of payments

The PBS said Pakistan’s trade deficit surged to an alarming US$15.03 billion in just five months – July to November 2017 – mainly because China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)-related imports increased by 16.48% at US$24.06 billion compared to the same period last year. An official from Pakistan’s finance ministry expressed serious concern about the widening trade deficit and pointed out that if growth remains stagnant, it will be a whopping US$35 billion by the end of fiscal 2017-18.

As a widening trade deficit invariably puts pressure on foreign reserves, Pakistan’s foreign exchange deposits figure is gradually sinking. It is presently estimated at US$14.66 billion, which includes US$2.5 billion worth of sales proceeds from euro and Sukuk bonds. Pakistan needs to pay back $6 billion for foreign debts servicing by the end of June 2018. To make matters worse for the country, the US government announced it was freezing military aid to Pakistan.

“The imposition of regulatory duties on Afghan items like fresh and dry fruits, marble and granite has rendered Pakistan uncompetitive for transit trade and made businesses switch over to Iranian ports Bander Abbas and Chabahar,” Daroo Khan Achakzai, PAJCCI’s vice president, told Asia Times. “Misguided policies have hit bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and inflicted a colossal financial loss on the business communities of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – two of the four provinces of Pakistan.”

The government, it seems, is giving top priority to the CPEC projects, diverting all its energy and resources to completing the Chinese-funded development plans. “It is unfortunate that trade under CPEC is facilitated by the government and Afghan transit and bilateral trade is totally ignored,” Sarhadi lamented.

As bilateral trade continues to shrink, Pakistan is looking at a looming economic crisis, while the Chabahar Port becomes a lucrative alternative for the Afghans. It is doubtful that the CPEC will be able to plug the gap.

http://www.atimes.com/article/afghan-port-shift-adds-pakistans-economic-woes/

Next phase is shifting Afghans back. In next 5 month we have to clear that and it will give us great benefits

 

[Tokhme khar]

If I were you, I wouldn't worry too much. You see how we manage Iraq, Lebanon and Syria? That's how we'll manage these Afghans.

Not surprised. Pakistan must prove it is stable and consistent in dealing with Afghanistan's business or else Iran will take more control. Same thing with taliban safe havens- If pakistan stops "managing" them, Iran will take them over. Its not that i like Iran tbh. I just love smart, crafty, patient world players, and Iran plays very smart. people who are mad at Iran are only made because Iran has out-played them. face it. pakistan might have sunni and pashtun links to afghanistan, but Iran will try and use trade,education and cultural links/benefits and stability to draw afghanistan closer to her. Afghanistan for the most part has to choose Iran or Pakistan right? So if Pakistan isnt "suitable" for Afghanistan for whatever reason, Iran is next in play. just sayin..

 

[thunderr]

Namak Haramo ki dead line kab khatam horahi ha? In haram khoro ko phainkoo jaldi .. V good news for Pakistan

 

[AmirPatriot]

The reaction of Pakistanis in this thread is completely opposite to what I thought

 

[Clutch]

Can it also lure away all the Afghan refugees from Pakistan?

 

[VEVAK]

A scenic part of Iran's strategic Chabahar Port, which will serve a growing volume of Afghan traffic. Photo: AFP
South AsiaTrade
Chabahar Port lures Afghan traffic away from Karachi

Economic blow for Pakistan as its maritime transit role is diminished

By F.M. Shakil February 2, 2018 2:43 AM (UTC+8)
Afghanistan has shifted 80% of its cargo traffic from Pakistan’s Karachi seaport to Iran’s Bandar Abbas and Chabahar ports. The move comes two months after Chabahar, barely 100 kilometers from Pakistan’s Gwadar port, was inaugurated. The shift, prompted in part by a new trade tariff imposed by Islamabad, is expected to greatly reduce Pakistan’s role in the transit of Afghan goods.

Pakistani business leaders believe that more Afghan trade will eventually shift to the strategic Chabahar Port, as it is Iran’s closest sea link to the Indian Ocean. The first phase of Shahid Beheshti Port in the Sistan-Balochistan province was commissioned last year. It is expected that US$5 billion worth of Afghan trade will be conducted solely through the tripartite Chabahar Port – sponsored jointly by India, Iran, and Afghanistan – once it starts feeding the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

The dailyReport
Must-reads from across Asia - directly to your inbox
In mid-November last year, Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah was quoted by the media as saying that Afghanistan was no longer dependent on Pakistan for the shipment of goods as it can now use Iran’s Chabahar Port for this purpose.

The current fiscal year has seen a US$2 billion drop in trade with Afghanistan due to frequent border shutdowns, military skirmishes and the new trade tariff. The trade volume, which stood at US$ 2.5 billion in 2016, has gradually declined to US$500 million following the deterioration of relations between the South Asian neighbors.

“The leadership of both countries should not mingle politics with trade and discourage the use of bilateral trade as a leverage to settle political and regional disputes,” Zia Ul Haq Sarhadi, director of the Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PAJCCI), told Asia Times. He attributed the decline to heightened tensions on the border, tariffs and Chabahar port, where he claimed India offered huge incentives for Afghan traders.

“On a reciprocal basis, Afghanistan opened a second aerial corridor for India, enabling her to establish a direct trade link between Mumbai and Kabul. The first flight took 40 tons of dried and fresh fruits and medicinal herbs to India through the aerial route,” Sarhadi said.

The US$2 billion reduction in bilateral trade with Afghanistan is expected to adversely hit the country’s economy, which is already reeling under a widening trade deficit and worsening balance of payments. Data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) in December last year point to a dismal economic outlook.

The US$2 billion reduction in bilateral trade with Afghanistan will adversely hit the country’s economy, which is already reeling under a widening trade deficit and worsening balance of payments

The PBS said Pakistan’s trade deficit surged to an alarming US$15.03 billion in just five months – July to November 2017 – mainly because China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)-related imports increased by 16.48% at US$24.06 billion compared to the same period last year. An official from Pakistan’s finance ministry expressed serious concern about the widening trade deficit and pointed out that if growth remains stagnant, it will be a whopping US$35 billion by the end of fiscal 2017-18.

As a widening trade deficit invariably puts pressure on foreign reserves, Pakistan’s foreign exchange deposits figure is gradually sinking. It is presently estimated at US$14.66 billion, which includes US$2.5 billion worth of sales proceeds from euro and Sukuk bonds. Pakistan needs to pay back $6 billion for foreign debts servicing by the end of June 2018. To make matters worse for the country, the US government announced it was freezing military aid to Pakistan.

“The imposition of regulatory duties on Afghan items like fresh and dry fruits, marble and granite has rendered Pakistan uncompetitive for transit trade and made businesses switch over to Iranian ports Bander Abbas and Chabahar,” Daroo Khan Achakzai, PAJCCI’s vice president, told Asia Times. “Misguided policies have hit bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and inflicted a colossal financial loss on the business communities of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – two of the four provinces of Pakistan.”

The government, it seems, is giving top priority to the CPEC projects, diverting all its energy and resources to completing the Chinese-funded development plans. “It is unfortunate that trade under CPEC is facilitated by the government and Afghan transit and bilateral trade is totally ignored,” Sarhadi lamented.

As bilateral trade continues to shrink, Pakistan is looking at a looming economic crisis, while the Chabahar Port becomes a lucrative alternative for the Afghans. It is doubtful that the CPEC will be able to plug the gap.

http://www.atimes.com/article/afghan-port-shift-adds-pakistans-economic-woes/

Afghanistan's entire economy and GDP (nominal) is only $20 Billion USD VS Iran's $450 Billion USD
now which of these economies do you think India would be building a port to target?

Yes Afghanistan would be a plus for Afghan exports to India

Yes India plans on investing Billions in Afghan steel and mining industry which will mostly be beneficial to Afghanistan since they don't have the money to do it themselves and at the end of the day if the Indians don't do it it's not like Pakistan has the money to make such a large investment into Afghanistan

In the long run since Pakistan is Afghanistan's main supplier the larger the Afghan economy gets the more beneficial that would be to Pakistan and the more money Afghans have to spend the more money Pakistan will be making
So the Chabahar port will be beneficial to everyone all around including Pakistan

Will it be better for Pakistan if Chabahar wasn't used as a corridor to Afghanistan? NO it WOULD NOT! Because India would NOT be investing billions in developing Afghanistan if Pakistan had a monopoly over what goes in or out of Afghanistan and because Afghanistan is NOT an easy country to do business in there aren't that many countries lining up to invest there

 

[mohd497]

Sad news for iran. this transit not only bring US dollars but drugs and gun culture as well. Not to forget the goddamn smuggling of low quality goods. Afghanistan just give misery nothing else.

I would have been happy for karachi but it is too late. marijauna, hashish have already taken over whole of karachi also the afghan opium, also the smuggled low quality electronics.