India seeks Pak passageway for freight train service

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

India seeks Pak passage way for freight train service​

Updated at: 2130 PST, Saturday, September 12, 2009
NEW DELHI: India has sent an application in writing to Pakistan seeking permission for a passage way to start a freight train service from India to middle east and Europe via Iran and Turkey.

Pakistan has forwarded the application to the Foreign Office for necessary action.

Talking to Geo News the Federal Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmed Bilour said Bangladesh has also made a similar request and that both the countries are seeking passage way for freight trains. India’s request has been sent to the Foreign Office for necessary action, he added.

India seeks Pak passage way for freight train service

-----------------------------------------------

Well now - if this is confirmed, should Pakistan agree without any quid pro quo?

Would there be any difference between the national security concerns associated with allowing India to trade with Afghanistan and allowing India to transit through Pakistan for trade with Iran, Turkey and beyond?

I suppose India could try to circumvent Pakistan for rail based trade with Turkey and Europe the same way she is with Afghanistan - transport the goods to Iran via sea, and then use the rail based system.

 

[Ghareeb_Da_Baal]

Quid Pro Quo would be nice!

 

[FireFighter]

-----------------------------------------------

Well now - if this is confirmed, should Pakistan agree without any quid pro quo?

Would there be any difference between the national security concerns associated with allowing India to trade with Afghanistan and allowing India to transit through Pakistan for trade with Iran, Turkey and beyond?

I suppose India could try to circumvent Pakistan for rail based trade with Turkey and Europe the same way she is with Afghanistan - transport the goods to Iran via sea, and then use the rail based system.​

India and the world fully know well that relations between Pakistan-India are at their lowest level in recent times yet India is still very determined to conspire against Pakistan by bringing it to disrepute in front of the International Community. And this is another pristine example of an attempt India is making to defame Pakistan in the media by knowing fully well that Pakistan wont agree to such an agreement at this time or as a matter of fact, ever.

Simple logic dictates that you dont offer trade agreement to a traditional foe when tensions are very high.

India and the whole Subcontinent has so much to gain from trade if it frees Kashmir, eliminates institutional oppression against Indian Muslims, and removes most of its soldiers stationed at the Pakistan border.​

 

[Omar1984]

India needs Pakistan much more than Pakistan needs India. The only countries India shares borders with are South Asian countries (Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Pakistan) and China. Pakistan shares borders with resource-rich Central Asia, oil-rich Middle East, China, and the rest of South Asia. Also Pakistan is connected to Europe (Turkey) through the Pakistan-Iran-Turkey rail link.

The only way India will gain access to Central Asia, Middle East, and Europe through Pakistan is if India frees Kashmir.

 

[bigmoneymaker]

now the indians are finally realizing the importance of keeping good relationship with her neighbouring countries if it tries to develope its economy and influence over other regions....just ignore the request for the time being and see what happens...to see how sincere they are in treating others with appropriate attitudes and manner...this is an important gain to off balance indian arrogancy..

 

[Spitfighter]

now the indians are finally realizing the importance of keeping good relationship with her neighbouring countries if it tries to develope its economy and influence over other regions....just ignore the request for the time being and see what happens...to see how sincere they are in treating others with appropriate attitudes and manner...this is an important gain to off balance indian arrogancy..

It takes two hands to clap, Pakistan's hands aren't clean, not by a long shot. Economic cooperation makes sense for both sides not just for India.

India and China have border disputes too, but both countries have shown great maturity by giving peace a chance and enhancing regional cooperation. Billions of dollars in trade have translated into jobs and better livelihoods for millions of people on both sides of the border.

Pakistan can for its part deny all of India's requests, India will eventually work its way around and at the end of the day, the opportunity cost will work out to be higher for Pakistan.

 

[mjnaushad]

I thought there was going to be no dialog unless we take action against 26/11 suspects in Pakistan. What happened dude?

 

[bigmoneymaker]

It takes two hands to clap, Pakistan's hands aren't clean, not by a long shot. Economic cooperation makes sense for both sides not just for India.

India and China have border disputes too, but both countries have shown great maturity by giving peace a chance and enhancing regional cooperation. Billions of dollars in trade have translated into jobs and better livelihoods for millions of people on both sides of the border.

Pakistan can for its part deny all of India's requests, India will eventually work its way around and at the end of the day, the opportunity cost will work out to be higher for Pakistan.

the economic structure of india is not that much different from that of pakistan(mainly base on agricultural econ income), unlike china exports most of the daily necessities to the world as world factory, freight carriage fee can mean a lot to the fate of dragon..
india is able to compete with china in term of exports, opportunity cost for carriage fee can hardly be reduced for india because that means it is the india that should be in the position to beg pakistan to let it have access to a cheaper alternative freight route rather than shipping on sea which cannot travel straight link like the train on the land...and of course it is a test for indian to learn humble for peacefully developing ties and strategies...

 

[Omar1984]

It takes two hands to clap, Pakistan's hands aren't clean, not by a long shot. Economic cooperation makes sense for both sides not just for India.

India and China have border disputes too, but both countries have shown great maturity by giving peace a chance and enhancing regional cooperation. Billions of dollars in trade have translated into jobs and better livelihoods for millions of people on both sides of the border.

Pakistan can for its part deny all of India's requests, India will eventually work its way around and at the end of the day, the opportunity cost will work out to be higher for Pakistan.

India wants a rail link to Europe through Pakistan and Iran, theres no way India can work its way around that, have you even looked at the map.



India is stuck, theres no way India can have a rail link to Turkey without Pakistan's permission. India has only countries belonging to the subcontinent as its neighbors and China.

And if you think Pakistan will suffer because India isn't involved then think again. The first train from Islamabad, Pakistan reached Istanbul, Turkey last month and Pakistan is now working on connecting China to the Pakistan-Iran-Turkey railway. Hey India can always build a rail link to Nepal or Bhutan

Check this thread:

http://www.defence.pk/forums/economy-development/31753-pakistan-turkey-rail-trial-starts.html

 

[jeet]

the economic structure of india is not that much different from that of pakistan(mainly base on agricultural econ income), unlike china exports most of the daily necessities to the world as world factory, freight carriage fee can mean a lot to the fate of dragon..
india is able to compete with china in term of exports, opportunity cost for carriage fee can hardly be reduced for india because that means it is the india that should be in the position to beg pakistan to let it have access to a cheaper alternative freight route rather than shipping on sea which cannot travel straight link like the train on the land...and of course it is a test for indian to learn humble for peacefully developing ties and strategies...

1)Contribution of Agri to indian GDP is only 26%
2)Atleast first time a foreign country is going to beg in front of pakistan .. usually it is other way round in last 60 years..

 

[eastwatch]

South Asian Media Net

PAK OKAYS INDIA'S TRAIN SERVICE PROPOSAL
Sunday, September 13,2009

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Railways has technically approved an Indian proposal to launch a South Asian regional train service between Bangladesh, India and Pakistan and the proposal has been forwarded to the ministry of foreign affairs and the commerce ministry for further evaluation.

The proposal had been floated by the Indian railways two weeks ago, officials said. ‘Experts have acknowledged potential of the South Asian route and they see it more easy to operate,’ the officials said, adding that the three countries had broad gauge railway tracks and even the railways’ operating system was similar as it had been established by the British rulers in the region.

The Indian proposal came in the backdrop of reports that the ECO planned to launch an Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul service. The Indian proposal also said that the proposed service could be a milestone in developing bilateral trade between Pakistan and other Saarc countries like Nepal and Bhutan as these countries would be accessible through the transit trade of this train service.

Officials of the ministry of railways said that experts had suggested Dhaka-Delhi-Lahore train was viable in all respects and if the need arose it could be extended to Karachi or Islamabad.

‘The initial trials would be container operations followed by passenger services,’ the ministry report said.

However, the ministry has forwarded its experts’ report to the foreign office for the feedback over the policy issue.

 

[eastwatch]

South Asian Media Net

PAK OKAYS INDIA'S TRAIN SERVICE PROPOSAL
Sunday, September 13,2009

I think all these news of connectivity among the SAARC countries are very positive. Despite the existence of some tensions, the region must move forward. Rail links will certainly help the countries of this region.

 

[Omar1984]

South Asian Media Net

PAK OKAYS INDIA'S TRAIN SERVICE PROPOSAL
Sunday, September 13,2009

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Railways has technically approved an Indian proposal to launch a South Asian regional train service between Bangladesh, India and Pakistan and the proposal has been forwarded to the ministry of foreign affairs and the commerce ministry for further evaluation.

This thread is discussing India's request to be given access to the Pakistan-Iran-Turkey railway, thats a different railway than the Bangladesh-India-Pakistan railway.

Pakistan will not give India access to Central Asia, Middle East, and Europe through Pakistan's soil so easily.

BTW, its good news that Pakistan will now be connected to Bangladesh through railway as well.

 

[EjazR]

The only reason for recent hostility between India-Pakistan is because of LeT's recent attacks in Mumbai. Even though there had been a number of terrorits attacks in many Indian cities before by LeT operatives, the relations were quiet smooth and Kashmir was almost resolved.

Then Musharraf lost power and then mumbai happened. Ofcourse there is a section in India that also doesn't want good relations with Pakistan and you have exmaples of the samjhuta express blasts for example.

Btw, Pakistan will also get access to huge consumer markets of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and possibly Indo china even. The consumer markets in Central Asia and Afghanistan are quite small in comparison

 

[FireFighter]

The only reason for recent hostility between India-Pakistan is because of LeT's recent attacks in Mumbai. Even though there had been a number of terrorits attacks in many Indian cities before by LeT operatives, the relations were quiet smooth and Kashmir was almost resolved.

Then Musharraf lost power and then mumbai happened. Ofcourse there is a section in India that also doesn't want good relations with Pakistan and you have exmaples of the samjhuta express blasts for example.

Btw, Pakistan will also get access to huge consumer markets of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and possibly Indo china even. The consumer markets in Central Asia and Afghanistan are quite small in comparison

Kashmir was almost resolved? *Coughs*

According to you but not the Kashmiris themselves who live under the shadow of Indian military rifles.


Although I agree that the whole of Sub-continent has so much to gain from trade.