Pakistan hampering Afghan integration with S Asia

[Contrarian]

Pakistan hampering Afghan integration with S Asia

KABUL: Afghanistan joins a South Asian economic grouping next week, but Pakistan’s refusal to allow transit for Indian goods headed for Kabul would prevent true integration, said the Afghan foreign minister on Wednesday.

Afghanistan will become the eighth member of SAARC during a summit of member nations in New Delhi on April 3 and 4. By joining SAARC, Afghanistan hopes to link its economy with the more prosperous subcontinent to spur reconstruction and development.

However, Pakistan’s denial of transit rights to Indian goods bound for Afghanistan – saying New Delhi and Islamabad must first resolve their longstanding political disputes, including Kashmir – was a major hurdle, said Rangin Dadfar Spanta.

“Indeed, that is one of the serious barriers on the way to bringing the countries closer together,” Spanta told Reuters in an interview. “But I recognise ... hopeful progress in the relationship between India and Pakistan, and I hope the result of this development is and will be to open the roads from India to Afghanistan.”

Both Pakistan and India have been vying for influence over Kabul since the Taliban government was ousted in 2001, but Islamabad’s denial of transit rights to New Delhi has meant Pakistan remains Afghanistan’s biggest trading partner.

While Afghan exports are allowed to transit through Pakistan to India, Indian businessmen complain flying goods to Afghanistan or using the sea route through the Pakistani port of Karachi or the Iranian port of Chabahar are too expensive. Spanta said this had been raised often by Afghan President Hamid Karzai with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and by himself with Pakistani Foreign Minister Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri.

“We need more time and also patience,” said Spanta, adding that a slow peace process between India and Pakistan was expected to resolve the transit dispute. reuters
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?p...9-3-2007_pg7_27

 

[kidwaibhai]

This is by far the most Idiotic move made by pakistan. this will really throw the afghans into the hand of the indians

 

[EagleEyes]

This is fine. Should be kept like it, until the Kashmir issue is resloved.

 

[Neo]

One can find a zillion excuses to malign Pakistan but the key issue is Kashmir since thats the core problem between India and Pakistan so India is equally to blame for hampering Afghan integration with SA.

IIRC Pakistan has contributed a lot more to the normalisation of ties with India, we've offered far more initiatives in solving Kashmir disput and we too are running out of options and patience. :wall:

 

[Neo]

This is by far the most Idiotic move made by pakistan. this will really throw the afghans into the hand of the indians

Don't worry, we'll never allow that to happen. India needs a trade corridor to Kabul via Pakistan to offer competitive trade. Trading via Iran will only make Indian export more expensive which is beneficial to our traders.

 

[aviator]

One can find a zillion excuses to malign Pakistan but the key issue is Kashmir since thats the core problem between India and Pakistan so India is equally to blame for hampering Afghan integration with SA.

IIRC Pakistan has contributed a lot more to the normalisation of ties with India, we've offered far more initiatives in solving Kashmir disput and we too are running out of options and patience. :wall:

So why not convert LoC into International Borders ? After Fighting for 60yrs , I don't think either India or Pakistan will let go whole kashmir to other side and any solution for final peace must satisfy both sides.Its upto people on both sides to understand that and accept it as final solution.

 

[Janbaz]

So why not convert LoC into International Borders ? After Fighting for 60yrs , I don't think either India or Pakistan will let go whole kashmir to other side and any solution for final peace must satisfy both sides.Its upto people on both sides to understand that and accept it as final solution.

That is not possibe. Accept LOC as the international border, people will flip out and if the Pakistani government accepts this mark my words: It will be ousted by a revolution in days! The fight for Kashmir is in some's blood!

 

[Contrarian]

India Welcomes Iran's Inclusion into SAARC: Foreign Secretary Menon


Iran has sought to be associated with SAARC as an observer, a move welcomed by India. "Iran has applied for Observer status formally," Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon said when asked about it.

He said the application has been circulated among the SAARC member countries and it will have to be considered in a series of meetings, including that of Council of Ministers.

Noting that as the Chair of the upcoming summit, India could not take any public position. But as a country, ‘we like the idea of more involvement in SAARC by our friend (Iran)’, he said.

Afghanistan will be formally inducted in SAARC as its eighth member in the upcoming summit.
http://www.india-defence.com/reports/2974

 

[kidwaibhai]

Iran is not part of South Asia it is a part of the middle east. We should not bring Iran into SAARC, there is already so much instability in south asia we dont need a country with so much baggage.

 

[Contrarian]

Baggage? Every country in SAARC has baggage. Iran has oil, it more than makes up for baggage.

 

[kidwaibhai]

Baggage? Every country in SAARC has baggage. Iran has oil, it more than makes up for baggage.

i dont think america is virtualy at war with any of the SAARC members. Now i might be wrong please feel free to correct me but i thing that this is hunk-a-chunk of baggage. already SAARC is so fragile lets not push it.

 

[Contrarian]

That oil would pump up India's ecnomy. It is needed by us.