India, Afghanistan plan air cargo link over Pakistan

[Hindustani78]

A ceremonial welcome for wheat in Zaranj. Photo courtesy: Twitter

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/a-first-indian-wheat-in-afghan-city-via-chabahar/496293.html

Posted at: Nov 12, 2017, 1:51 AM; last updated: Nov 12, 2017, 1:51 AM (IST)

New Delhi, November 11

In a significant sign of trilateral cooperation, the first consignment of wheat from India to Afghanistan, that was flagged off by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani on October 29, reached the Afghan city of Zaranj near the Iran-Afghanistan border on Saturday via the Iranian port of Chabahar, thereby bypassing Pakistan.

Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Manpreet Vohra said pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani decorated Zaranj as the shipment arrived.

The shipment to Afghanistan comes in the wake of Ghani’s one-day visit to India on October 24. India is a major development aid partner for strife-torn Afghanistan.

The shipment is part of a commitment made by India to supply 1.1 million tonnes of wheat for the people of Afghanistan on a grant basis.

This is the first shipment to reach Afghanistan via Chabahar after trilateral agreement to develop the port as a transport and transit corridor between India, Iran and Afghanistan was signed by PM Modi with Iranian and Afghan Presidents Hassan Rouhani and Ashraf Ghani in May last year. — IANS


Zaranj airport new runway inaugurated pic.twitter.com/z0tYAseY47

Afghanistan: Afghanistan exports 40 tons of dried, fresh fruits to India:
By on 28 October 2017

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.khaama.com/chabahar-port-a-new-trade-paradigm-in-the-region-03838

The Chabahar Project was conceived fifteen years ago. But because of US-imposed International Sanctions on Iran, the project stalled for several years. During 2016 Iran reached an agreement on its nuclear program with group of World Powers known as the P5+1 (the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council –the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, China, and France; plus Germany). The agreement lifted some of the sanctions. The sanctions easement prompted India to invest USD 500 million in an effort to build cargo berths, terminals and connecting roads and rail lines is the foundation of the strategy to improve linkage to Afghanistan and Central Asia.



Image Source: Internet

The investment will enable India to have access to Afghanistan and Central Asian Markets and facilitate trade between Central Asia and South Asia (CA & SA). Subsequently, in 2016 Afghanistan, Iran and India signed trilateral agreement. {https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/gam...da-as-as-pm-modi-visits-iran-10-facts-1408983}.The Agreement serves as a legal framework for three states to trade via Chabahar port. The sea route is the second trade route between India and Afghanistan: in June 2016 the two countries launched an Air Corridor Project to facilitate trade between two nations. So far, hundreds of tons of cargo have been traded via air corridor between two nations. On October 29 of this year, the first consignment of wheat was shipped via Chabahar Port to Afghanistan.

The Chabahar project is a win-win situation for Afghanistan-Iran and India and the wider region. The access to Central Asia will boost India trade relation with Central Asia and Afghanistan.

The connectivity is also in-line with newly released US South Asia Strategy. This strategy requires India to play a bigger role in Afghanistan’s stabilization and economic development. In turn, Iran got its first deep-water port that will enable the country to conduct trade with big cargo ships compared to small, uneconomic ships Iran’s ports are handling now. Additionally, Afghanistan and Iran will be entitled to annually receive tens of millions of dollars as transit fees from trade between CA & SA.

Several policy analysts argued that Chabahar port is the alternative route to Pakistan’s congested Karachi Port, and the newly established port will give end or will minimize trade with Pakistan because in the past Pakistan used the trade as a policy tools to pressure Afghanistan, which is a landlocked country. However, the current author believes that Afghanistan simply took advantage of its legitimate right to have several routes to trade with other countries. Having choices will give an end Afghanistan’s being hugely dependent on Karachi trade route and will pave the ground for regional development and economic integration. This development will contribute to stability and growth in the region which is in the interest of entire region. Additionally, CA & SA have different production and demand gaps: CA is energy rich and SA is energy starved whereas SA is specialized in technology and manufacturing products needed by CA. Hence the trade route can greatly increase CA oil and gas revenues while enable India and the manufacturing and technology giants such as Japan to have access to a new market that now has revenues to pay for their products and services.

The author recommends that Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GoIRA) should take maximum advantage of the improved and new transportation routes to establish trade relations. Taking advantage includes, but not limited to, signing trade agreements with industrialized nations such as Japan, United States of America, the European Union and India. The GoIRA is expected to facilitate export of mining products to the industrialized world.

For decades Afghanistan mines were exported under trade mark of the neighboring countries. For the time being, industrialized countries are not directly purchasing mining products from Afghanistan’s traders and under the trademark of Afghanistan, because they believe the money will go to insurgent’s movements and branded the mines as “Blood Mines”. Instead, the mines are first traded via intermediaries to neighboring countries and then sold to industrialized countries. The author argues that change of trade destination and bringing intermediaries in between could inhibit this flow of cash to illegal armed groups. Instead the industrialized world could purchase the mines directly from Afghanistan markets and Afghanistan companies and partnerships. This requires that the transactions should be monitored by Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and fairly taxed. Furthermore, the document of transactions should be publicly available as only then we could avoid outflow of cash to the insurgents’ movements.

To boost and speed-up the trade via Chabahar port we recommend that Afghanistan should propose to have One-Stop-Border-Post (OSBP) with Iran. This OSBP will combine the administrative unit of both countries at border of Iran and Afghanistan or any other alternative agreeable location and at the lower end of the cargo destination with Central Asia. The OSBP construction expenditure will be paid by the two nations. The OSBP border post will reduce the time that shipments spend at the border. Significantly, the OSBP will reduce fraudulent practices in tax collection as well. Upon successful completion and implementation of an OSBP with Iran, the government could propose establishing similar facilities with other neighboring countries as well. Because, strategically and from an economic point of view, it is not advisable to be wholly dependent on single route for conducting trade with foreign world. The One-Stop-Border-Post is not a new concept. For example, the idea was implemented in Uganda and Kenya border, and truck drivers reported significant time reduction that they spend at border ports (the time reduced from 2 days to less than 8 hours).


Obaidullah is a development economist. He graduated from Public Policy Program of National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies at Tokyo, Japan, specializing in international development studies. The ideas and recommendations in this article does not represent an entity. They are solely belong to the writer.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...an-abdullah/article20449935.ece?homepage=true

“Afghanistan used to rely only on one transit road, which was through Karachi. That is not the case anymore,” says Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.
Afghanistan would no longer depend on Pakistan for transit trade with the opening of the strategic Chabahar Port, a top Afghan leader has said.

Chabahar Port, located in the Sistan-Balochistan province on the energy-rich Persian Gulf nation’s southern coast, lies outside the Persian Gulf and is easily accessed from India’s western coast, bypassing Pakistan.

The port is likely to ramp up trade between India, Afghanistan and Iran in the wake of Pakistan denying transit access to New Delhi for trade with the two countries.

India has been closely working with Afghanistan to create alternate and reliable access routes, bypassing Pakistan.

“Afghanistan used to rely only on one transit road, which was through Karachi. That is not the case anymore. [Now] its [also] through Chabahar,” Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said.

As per the agreement signed between India and Iran in May last year, India is to equip and operate two berths in Chabahar Port Phase-I with capital investment of $85.21 million and annual revenue expenditure of $22.95 million on a ten-year lease.

Afghanistan in the near future would also have trade transit route through Central Asia that would connect the country with Europe.

“There are one or two agreements that we will be signing with neighbouring countries, including Uzbekistan, hopefully in a few days which will help transit,” he said in response to a question at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a top American think-tank.

Welcoming the new South Asia policy of U.S. President Donald Trump, Mr. Abdullah said he is today more hopeful than before that Afghanistan will succeed and will overcome the challenges that are ahead of it.

He said the aim is that those forces which are fighting against the government of Afghanistan and the people of Afghanistan will be persuaded to come to the negotiating table.

Mr. Abdullah argued that it is important for the countries in the region to realise that terrorism is a common enemy for all of them.

If there is one lesson in the past two decades, it is that these terrorist groups have not served and will not serve the real interest of any country or state, he said.

“At the end of the day they have their own interests which is in destruction and terror and violence,” he added.

Mr. Abdullah said majority of the people of Afghanistan are keen to see a peaceful process.

Acknowledging that there are challenges ahead of them, he said there are still groups who believe that they can win through methods of terror and violence.

“They receive support and they have sanctuaries. That remains to be a big challenge for us,” Mr. Abdullah said.

“But I have no doubt in my mind that there will be conditions and circumstances that more and more groups will be convinced that they need to join the peaceful process rather to continue an endless war,” he said.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.khaama.com/afghan-pine-nuts-generate-1-2b-turnover-for-the-outsider-traders-ghani-04012

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani says a major portion of the benefits from pine nuts exports goes to the pockets of the outsiders which amount up to $500 million a year.

Speaking during the closing ceremony of industrial exhibition in Kabul, President Ghani said pine nuts export from Afghanistan amounts to $700 million a year.

However, he said the turn over as a result of the exports of the pine nuts from another country reaches to $1.2 billion a year as the third country exporting the Afghan products make an annual profit of up to $500 million.

President Ghani said the government remains committed to support the private sector in a bid to boost the domestic revenues through coordination and cooperation.

President Ghani said the government remains committed to support the private sector in a bid to boost the domestic revenues through coordination and cooperation.

He said the government plans to further pave the way for the exports of the Afghan products outside the country, emphasizing that any truck importing goods to Kabul should not return empty and in return must export the Afghan commodities through the ports in Mazar and Herat.

In other parts of his speech, President Ghani said the air corridor program as part of the government’s policy will further expand in a bid to pave the way for the exports of the Afghan traders commodities.

 

[Hindustani78]

Vice President's Secretariat
12-December, 2017 19:49 IST
Vice- President holds talks with Afghan Second Vice President Mohammad Sarwar Danish

We should actively confront the policy of state support to terrorism being practiced by our common neighbour: Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu

The Vice-President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu held talks with the visiting Second Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Mohammad Sarwar Danish here today.

During their meeting the Vice President said that India has commenced supply of 1,70,000 tonnes of Wheat grain assistance to Afghanistan via the Chabahar Port in Iran, since the recent inauguration of the first phase of the strategic port with Indian investment and funding. Shri Venkaiah Naidu also mentioned that more than 50 flights have been undertaken from Afghanistan to India since the launch of the Air Freight Corridor in June 2017.

The Vice-President said India has provided assistance to Afghanistan to the tune of US$ 2 billion till last year. In September 2016, our Prime Minister announced an additional assistance of US$1 billion for the people of Afghanistan. All these led to the “New Development Partnership” in September 2017, he added. Shri Venkaiah Naidu said under this Partnership, already 116 ‘High Impact Community Development Projects’ have been identified in 31 of 34 provinces in Afghanistan and several other Medium to Large New Projects announced. He said Afghanistan can truly emerge as an important Trade, Investment and Connectivity junction for the entire Asian and Eurasian Region.

Voicing concern over the huge challenges facing Afghanistan and confronting issues of safe havens and other forms of cross-border support enjoyed by terrorists, the Vice-President said we should actively confront the policy of state support to terrorism that is being practiced by a certain neighbour of ours. Pointing out that last year was the most violent year since 2001 for Afghanistan with over 10,000 causalities of whom 25% are civilians, Shri Venkaiah Naidu said we must work for setting up of an international verification mechanism for action taken in fighting terrorism and elimination of safe havens and other support, he added.

Stating that India is aware of the New US Policy in Afghanistan, Shri Venkaiah Naidu said New Delhi remains committed towards reconstruction and development of Afghanistan ever since the transition in 2001 as a valued neighbour and strategic partner. India supports Afghanistan in all its efforts to emerge as a united, sovereign, democratic, peaceful, stable, prosperous and pluralistic nation. Recent months have seen intense and positive activity in the bilateral relationship between our two countries, he added.

The Vice-President said India completely supports the National Unity Government and also wishes to see an inclusive and united Government in the future of Afghanistan. India supports Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled reconciliation efforts which should comply with internationally accepted red-lines. Shri Venkaiah Naidu said these conditions should not be diluted.

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The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu receiving the visiting Second Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Mohammad Sarwar Danish, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on December 12, 2017.

The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu meeting the visiting Second Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Mohammad Sarwar Danish, in New Delhi on December 12, 2017.

The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu meeting the visiting Second Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Mohammad Sarwar Danish, in New Delhi on December 12, 2017.

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.khaama.com/india-pledges-31m-for-the-implementation-of-108-projects-in-afghanistan-04440

The government of India has pledged a fresh aid package of $31 million for the implementation of 108 new development projects in Afghanistan.

A ceremony was also organized in Kabul today for the signing of the Memorandums of Understanding for the new aid package of the government of India.

The Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Manpreet Vohra signed the Memorandums of Understanding with different governmental institutions of Afghanistan.

The Chief Executive of the Government of National Unity of Afghanistan Dr. Abdullah Abdullah was also present in the signing ceremony.

The economy minister of Afghanistan Mustafa Mastoor said the new aid package will help to implement 108 new development projects across the country.

He said the projects will be implemented in 31 different provinces of the country to cover different sectors including health, energy and power, higher education, agriculture, rural development, and sports.

India has played a major role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban regime and has invested over $2 billion in various reconstruction and infrastructure projects.

The construction of the major Salma Dam, the new Afghan parliament building, Zaranj-Delaram highway, and some other projects are among the key investments India has done so far in the country.

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...ace-process/story-MlkPcuDyoKTLz7z0Ruh0TP.html

On the eve of a key meeting on Afghanistan, India assured the war-torn country of its long-term presence and standing with the government and the people of Afghanistan in various spheres including Kabul’s peace overtures.

The assurance was conveyed by foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale during his meeting with Afghan foreign minister Salahuddin Rabbani in Kabul, according to an official release of Afghan foreign office.

Gokhale arrived in Kabul earlier in the day to attend the second meeting of Kabul Process. The meeting is expected to primarily focus on two topics — the modality of the peace process and the fight against terrorism, the Afghan foreign office spokesperson was quoted as saying by local media.

The foreign secretary also noted New Delhi’s serious attention to the immediate implementation of all India-assisted projects in Afghanistan, including the project for provision of potable water for the Kabul residents.

“Gokhale assured the Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs of the strong commitment of New Delhi to the long term presence and standing of India by the side of government and the people of Afghanistan in various spheres including in regards to Kabul’s peace overtures,” the Afghan foreign office release said.

On his part, Rabbani expressed gratitude for the valuable cooperation of India with Afghanistan, especially in the areas of reconstruction, and supporting an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.

“The Afghan Foreign Minister also gave information about the vision of the Afghan government with regards to peace and its expectations from the 2nd Meeting of the Kabul Process,” the release said.

It also said that Gokhale highlighted the significance of the Indo-Afghan strategic partnership and emphasised on New Delhi’s serious attention to the immediate implementation of all projects that are managed and executed by India in Afghanistan, including the project for provision of potable water for the Kabul residents.

The foreign secretary also noted that within the context of new developmental partnership between the two countries, India was ready to extend its economic cooperation on any area which forms a priority for the government and people of Afghanistan.

Gokhale also met deputy foreign minister Hekamt Khalil Karzai and discussed a wide range of issues, including those of mutual interest and common concerns, as well as bilateral arrangements.

Kabul Process meeting is a gathering of over 20 nations, and international organisation like the EU, UN and NATO, and is intended to discuss security and political issues in the country

 

[Hindustani78]

Cabinet
04-April, 2018 19:26 IST
Cabinet approvesa Cooperation Arrangement between India and Afghanistan for cooperation in the field of food safety and related areas

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of a Cooperation Arrangement between Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) and Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation & Livestock (MAIL), Afghanistan for cooperation in the field of Food Safety and related areas.

The areas of cooperation include the following:

1. Establishment of a mechanism of information exchange and communication;
2. Facilitating technical exchange on identified topics of interestespecially about import procedures, quality control operations, sampling,testing, packaging and labeling;
3. Facilitating/organization of joint seminars, workshops, visits, lectures,training programme, etc;
4. Other areas of interest to the participants within their responsibilitiesas they may mutually determine.

The cooperation arrangement will facilitate information sharing training and capacity building measure and learning from each others best practice to improve food safety ecosystem.