Kabul denied route for India trade

[Lethalforce]

No problem for India, We have our Iranian ports to bring goods to Afganistan.

land route would be a lot cheaper

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Afghanistan has been suffering the ill-effects of Pakistan's India policy since the 90s.

One could also argue that 'Afghanistan has been suffering the ill-effects of India's Pakistan policy since the defeat of the Soviets' - by supporting the brutal tyrants and warlords that comprised the Northern Alliance.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

@Asim

-Pakistan cannot block the NATO supply route. period.

Why not?

-Isolating Afghanistan will create a vacuum which others will only be more than happy to fill aside from all the resentment any such move will surely create. Pakistan can no longer hope to strong arm its way with Afghanistan.

Denying trade with India through Pakistan is not 'isolating Afghanistan'. The argument that Afghanistan would deny Pakistan trade with all the CAR's (which is isolating Pakistan from an entire region), as a response to denial of trade with India through Pakistan, was raised by an Indian poster, to which it was pointed out that Afghanistan stands to lose a lot more than Pakistan through such tit for tat, since Pakistan's trade with the CAR's is negligible.

In addition, the trade being contemplated between the CAR's and Pakistan (gas pipelines and electricity lines) all benefit an impoverished Afghanistan through transit fees and part of the products being used locally in Afghanistan.

Since Iran is not facing gas and electricity shortfalls, these projects are only feasible if they serve Pakistan.

Therefore, for an impoverished nation like Afghanistan to deny access to the CAR's to Pakistan, is an example of Afghans cutting off their nose to spite Pakistan for the sake of trade with India.

 

[Developereo]

We also have to be realistic.

As always, India is planning for the long term.

Once NATO leaves Afghanistan, Iran and Afghanistan will normalize relations and the Chah Bahar <-> CAR route will become fully operational.

This makes it all the more important that Pakistan develop good relations with Iran and Afghanistan.

Gwadar will not be directly competing with Chah Bahar because our main traffic will continue to be Chinese goods. Until the Iranians normalize relations with the arab world, China will use Gwadar to reach the Middle East.

As regards NATO, Pakistan would not block supplies but 'accidents' will happen...

 

[dbc]

Afghanistan stands to lose a lot more than Pakistan through such tit for tat, since Pakistan's trade with the CAR's is negligible.

No, both Pakistan and Afghanistan lose big. A picture is worth a thousand words..
The red line passes thru Baluchistan..coincidence? May be...

Source 1

Source 2

 

[Developereo]

No, both Pakistan and Afghanistan lose big.

I agree.
Pakistan has done superbly well in the military arena and we are rightly proud of our military scientists.

But, unlike India, we have completely neglected soft power and diplomacy as tools to serve Pakistan's interests. Good neighborly relations are always welcome.

We need to improve relations with Afghanistan and Iran. Eventually India (after Kashmir).

 

[Durran3]

I say we let them use our trade routes.. Bump up security to check what goods are being transferred and Heavily tax it

 

[pmukherjee]

I say we let them use our trade routes.. Bump up security to check what goods are being transferred and Heavily tax it

At last one optimist. As it is, Pakistan stands to earn a lot by way of Transit duties as the volume of trade is expected to be quite heavy.

 

[Durran3]

At last one optimist. As it is, Pakistan stands to earn a lot by way of Transit duties as the volume of trade is expected to be quite heavy.

I am a free market capitalist, if it makes us money! Do it. There is no question of morality here, the only threat we face is supposedly national security which isn't to hard to overcome if we have proper law and order and the folks at customs checking for whats coming and going between these trade routes. Have proper Check posts and police patrol monitoring each and everything.

We get Toll Taxes and of course the custom taxes set at a relatively high rate while ensuring the safety of the vehicles. Plus have gas stations, resting areas, and kiosks, shops etc. It'll be a good opportunity for small businesses.

 

[Awesome]

The Chabahar-Melak-Zaranj-Dilaram link will serve Afghanistan just fine.
Pakistan is overstating it's case as a transit nation.
All that will happen is Pakistan will fail to capitalize on a multi-billion dollar opportunity to earn transit fee.

So go ahead through Iran if you can.

 

[trickey]

One could also argue that 'Afghanistan has been suffering the ill-effects of India's Pakistan policy since the defeat of the Soviets' - by supporting the brutal tyrants and warlords that comprised the Northern Alliance.

India has always tried to work with every government in Afghanistan(except Taliban), just as it has tried to work with every tinpot dictator of Pakistan:
India’s interests in Afghanistan are clear—

1. Containment of conflict with Pakistan
2. Access to trade routes from Central Asia
3. Access to energy routes from Central Asia

Afghanistan stands to gain from all three.

With a long term view towards achieving those objectives, India is building up Afghanistan's infrastructure:
India is building schools, hospitals, roads, power grids.
India is training a new generation of Afghanistan workforce in carpentry, masonry to empower them to rebuild their own country.
India empowers Afghan women by training them in vegetable farming, food processing and entrepreneurship.


On the other hand, Pakistan is doing everything in it's power to convert Afghanistan into a wasteland, all in the name of "strategic depth".

 

[Durran3]

So go ahead through Iran if you can.

Why? Why shouldn't we capitalize on this? Our economy is on life support and we can use these trade routes to our advantage. Business is Business, we have money coming into your system via heavy custom duties, toll taxes. Like i said its good for small business as well and more employment opportunities. More gas pumps, restaurants, smaller kiosks, places to rest. The only case here is that of National Security which can easily be taken care by certain measures that i posted above.

Maybe we should set our ego aside and look at the ground realities of whats good for the country. More revenues, more employment opportunities, more smaller business a good step forward for peace and friendship.. its a win win situation. I am surprised that a lot of people are against this

 

[nwmalik]

we should make sure that india and pakistan have a huge economic stakes in each other hence war will never happen

 

[Developereo]

Maybe we should set our ego aside and look at the ground realities of whats good for the country.

It's not a question of ego but national security.
Are we going to escort every single truck through the country?
Who is going to pay the exorbitent costs of such an undertaking?
Are we going to assign junior ISI agents to do this task? police?
How do we guard against corruption and double agents?

It's a vertiable Pandora's box. No need to open it now, especially while the country already has so many other problems.

I know many people don't believe it but, given India's record in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Tibet, there is no doubt in my mind whatsover that India is involved in Balochistan and elsewhere.

The miniscule economic benefits don't even come close to the potential downside of Indian infiltration.

 

[SinoIndusFriendship]

It's not a question of ego but national security.
Are we going to escort every single truck through the country?
Who is going to pay the exorbitent costs of such an undertaking?
Are we going to assign junior ISI agents to do this task? police?
How do we guard against corruption and double agents?

It's a vertiable Pandora's box. No need to open it now, especially while the country already has so many other problems.

I know many people don't believe it but, given India's record in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Tibet, there is no doubt in my mind whatsover that India is involved in Balochistan and elsewhere.

The miniscule economic benefits don't even come close to the potential downside of Indian infiltration.

Very realistic and practical. We need more people like you in government/security/defense.