anonymus
BANNED
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2011
- Messages
- 3,870
- Reaction score
- -7
- Country
- Location
No. Iran does not have a transit agreement with Afghanistan. Iran charges full transit fees for anything going through its territory to Afghanistan. Pakistan has had a transit agreement with Afghanistan since the creation of Pakistan and before that during the British Raj. This agreement is actually an appendage of Durand agreement which British did with Afghanistan. Therefore Pakistan still renews it and allows for discounted and almost free transit of goods to Afghanistan despite this having a very negative effect on Pakistan's own industries: AFGHAN TRANSIT TRADE
This historical agreement usually was pressured on Pakistani government by British government but the last time this agreement was renewed was under pressure from United States and you know the reason why, as they want Afghanistan to succeed. And that is why Pakistan has to abide by this agreement, otherwise Afghanistan can take the case to WTO and international courts. The agreement even allows for direct trade between India and Afghanistan through Pakistan.
As for Gwadar, did you know to operate a port you need electricity? Without electricity no port can function.
Gwadar is not connected to electricity grid of Pakistan. It is connected to electricity grid of Iran.
Also when ocean going ships visit a port they must be refueled. These gigantic ships need thousands of tonnes of fuel. I do not think there is an oil well in Gwadar that can refuel the ships. So where you are going to refuel the ships? In Dubai? If the ship has to go to Dubai to get refueled why would it even bother to visit Gwadar? You know that Dubai is a competitor of Gwadar, don't you? And where this oil pipeline refueling these ships at your "gigantic international transit port", has to come from? Mars? or Jupiter?
I think you are misinformed on this issue.
Afghanistan is a landlocked state, and legally (according to UNCLOS which Iran too has signed) neither you, nor Pakistan could charge any transit fee, or any custom duty or Tax from Afghanistan. You could only charge for services you render and that too at same rate that you charge from your own users.
See Article 127:
PREAMBLE TO THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA
In a way you have seconded my thoughts. Both Gwader and Karachi are best options for Afghanistan since we literally don't charge them anything while Iran will. Please explain this to Indians
You need some Schooling in International maritime law.