US backs India-Iran Chabahar port deal as it outflanks China-Pakistan Gwadar project

[Winchester]

New York: Washington broadly supports India and Afghanistan signing a deal with Iran for a transport corridor opening up a new route to Afghanistan via the Iranian port of Chabahar, as it outflanks the $46-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project with Gwadar as its focal point.

Analysts say Washington is acutely aware that China's plans to develop Pakistan's southern coastal fishing town of Gwadar into an economic hub, potentially redraws the region’s geopolitical map. It gives China a new trade link from its relatively undeveloped west to key Arabian Sea shipping routes at the mouth of the oil-rich Persian Gulf — giving it potentially strategic as well as economic leverage.


"The massive Gwadar project reveals China's regional power play. There is no comparison in scale and intent between China’s role in Gwadar and India’s in Chabahar, but the Americans are pleased that India is pushing back against the Chinese expansionist mindset," said author and South Asia expert Adam V Larkey.

"The transport corridor will open up a much-needed independent route to Afghanistan via Iran's Chabahar port circumventing Pakistan. This is significant for India and Afghanistan, whose economic stability in turn, is important to the United States. There are fissures in Pakistan’s relations with the US and Afghanistan, while its ties with old friend China remain rock solid," added Larkey.

The Gwadar project is about more than simple trade — its backers hope that once finished, it will bolster Pakistan's economy and potentially give China's navy access to the Indian Ocean. The plan would also strengthen both China and Pakistan's positions versus India, and hedge against US influence in Asia.

India's Chabahar investment has been pending for years, in part owing to US sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, many of which were lifted earlier this year. New Delhi will invest $200 million to develop two terminals and five berths at Chabahar.

Gwadar is being built as a commercial port and not as a naval facility for China’s navy — at least for the time being, but it could potentially be developed as one in the future. Situated on a barren, hammerhead-shaped peninsula in the south of insurgency-ridden Balochistan — and just north-east of the strategically important Straits of Hormuz — Pakistan's generals and China's politicians predict the development of Gwadar will be a game-changer.

It would give China a firm and reliable long-term beachhead in the Indian Ocean and close to the Persian Gulf, "effectively making it a two-ocean power," said Claude Rakisits, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.

Some US senators were caught off guard by the announcement of the Chabahar port deal, but the Obama administration has batted for India.

"For India to be able to contribute to the economic development of Afghanistan, it needs access that it does not readily have across its land boundary. And India is seeking to deepen its energy relationship with the Central Asian countries and looking for routes that would facilitate that," assistant secretary of state for South Asia Nisha Desai Biswal told the Senate foreign relations committee on Tuesday.

Biswal assured the senators that the Obama administration has been "very clear with the Indians what our security concerns have been and we would continue to engage them on those issues".


http://www.firstpost.com/world/us-b...oject-2799596.html?utm_source=fp_top_internal

 

[Tripoli]

New York: Washington broadly supports India and Afghanistan signing a deal with Iran for a transport corridor opening up a new route to Afghanistan via the Iranian port of Chabahar, as it outflanks the $46-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project with Gwadar as its focal point.

Analysts say Washington is acutely aware that China's plans to develop Pakistan's southern coastal fishing town of Gwadar into an economic hub, potentially redraws the region’s geopolitical map. It gives China a new trade link from its relatively undeveloped west to key Arabian Sea shipping routes at the mouth of the oil-rich Persian Gulf — giving it potentially strategic as well as economic leverage.


"The massive Gwadar project reveals China's regional power play. There is no comparison in scale and intent between China’s role in Gwadar and India’s in Chabahar, but the Americans are pleased that India is pushing back against the Chinese expansionist mindset," said author and South Asia expert Adam V Larkey.

"The transport corridor will open up a much-needed independent route to Afghanistan via Iran's Chabahar port circumventing Pakistan. This is significant for India and Afghanistan, whose economic stability in turn, is important to the United States. There are fissures in Pakistan’s relations with the US and Afghanistan, while its ties with old friend China remain rock solid," added Larkey.

The Gwadar project is about more than simple trade — its backers hope that once finished, it will bolster Pakistan's economy and potentially give China's navy access to the Indian Ocean. The plan would also strengthen both China and Pakistan's positions versus India, and hedge against US influence in Asia.

India's Chabahar investment has been pending for years, in part owing to US sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, many of which were lifted earlier this year. New Delhi will invest $200 million to develop two terminals and five berths at Chabahar.

Gwadar is being built as a commercial port and not as a naval facility for China’s navy — at least for the time being, but it could potentially be developed as one in the future. Situated on a barren, hammerhead-shaped peninsula in the south of insurgency-ridden Balochistan — and just north-east of the strategically important Straits of Hormuz — Pakistan's generals and China's politicians predict the development of Gwadar will be a game-changer.

It would give China a firm and reliable long-term beachhead in the Indian Ocean and close to the Persian Gulf, "effectively making it a two-ocean power," said Claude Rakisits, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.

Some US senators were caught off guard by the announcement of the Chabahar port deal, but the Obama administration has batted for India.

"For India to be able to contribute to the economic development of Afghanistan, it needs access that it does not readily have across its land boundary. And India is seeking to deepen its energy relationship with the Central Asian countries and looking for routes that would facilitate that," assistant secretary of state for South Asia Nisha Desai Biswal told the Senate foreign relations committee on Tuesday.

Biswal assured the senators that the Obama administration has been "very clear with the Indians what our security concerns have been and we would continue to engage them on those issues".


http://www.firstpost.com/world/us-b...oject-2799596.html?utm_source=fp_top_internal

An Indian news site. Nothing more to say.

 

[Tripoli]

So? Its quoting American lawmakers.

They also recently quoted European lawmakers that the EU was going to impose sanctions on Pakistan but
it turned out to be a dud. Not even mentioned by any European news agency.(Not that anything more expected from an Indian news site)

Why aren't there any american or neutral sources? Supporting an Iranian project is a big deal after all.

 

[volatile]

Chahbhar is an extension to Gawadar ,Chahbhar lacks deep sea as its depth is lower .Indian bluff is called off as you dont spend so much money on Ext any way rest lies with our Iranian friends how they want us to

 

[Djinn]

Gawadar is going to be a lot more than a commercial port, Chinese nuclear submarine in Karachi is one indication. If Chinese will concentrate Naval power at Gawadar they will be able to choke the Persian gulf, of course, unlike the US, they don't have such designs but this is the region where US has had uncontested strong military presence over the last few decades and now China is going to be around as well. Makes perfect sense that the US is feeling the jitters. As for US putting it's entire weight to stop China-------Every one knows that how well that has worked so far .

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

The much hyped Iranian - Indian nexus with particullar reference to Chahbahar assumes that Iran is willing to play second fiddle to India and the US in containing China and undermning the CPEC. That does not seem to be the case. Iran will support such ventues for mainly eco gains and beyond that it would certainly avoid engagement in the above alluded ventures. Iran has enough problems to deal with, in the region and beyond

Gwadar should be declared a free trade zone, with autonomous Banking out of SBP or our corrupt FBR control. Let anyone come and park his money; black, pink, white - that will suck the life out of Chahbahar, and even Dubai in the long term

 

[livingdead]

I read a report that americans are worried about chabahar port, especially Indo-Iranian cooperation might extend to defense sector.

 

[GURU DUTT]

New York: Washington broadly supports India and Afghanistan signing a deal with Iran for a transport corridor opening up a new route to Afghanistan via the Iranian port of Chabahar, as it outflanks the $46-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project with Gwadar as its focal point.

Analysts say Washington is acutely aware that China's plans to develop Pakistan's southern coastal fishing town of Gwadar into an economic hub, potentially redraws the region’s geopolitical map. It gives China a new trade link from its relatively undeveloped west to key Arabian Sea shipping routes at the mouth of the oil-rich Persian Gulf — giving it potentially strategic as well as economic leverage.


"The massive Gwadar project reveals China's regional power play. There is no comparison in scale and intent between China’s role in Gwadar and India’s in Chabahar, but the Americans are pleased that India is pushing back against the Chinese expansionist mindset," said author and South Asia expert Adam V Larkey.

"The transport corridor will open up a much-needed independent route to Afghanistan via Iran's Chabahar port circumventing Pakistan. This is significant for India and Afghanistan, whose economic stability in turn, is important to the United States. There are fissures in Pakistan’s relations with the US and Afghanistan, while its ties with old friend China remain rock solid," added Larkey.

The Gwadar project is about more than simple trade — its backers hope that once finished, it will bolster Pakistan's economy and potentially give China's navy access to the Indian Ocean. The plan would also strengthen both China and Pakistan's positions versus India, and hedge against US influence in Asia.

India's Chabahar investment has been pending for years, in part owing to US sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, many of which were lifted earlier this year. New Delhi will invest $200 million to develop two terminals and five berths at Chabahar.

Gwadar is being built as a commercial port and not as a naval facility for China’s navy — at least for the time being, but it could potentially be developed as one in the future. Situated on a barren, hammerhead-shaped peninsula in the south of insurgency-ridden Balochistan — and just north-east of the strategically important Straits of Hormuz — Pakistan's generals and China's politicians predict the development of Gwadar will be a game-changer.

It would give China a firm and reliable long-term beachhead in the Indian Ocean and close to the Persian Gulf, "effectively making it a two-ocean power," said Claude Rakisits, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.

Some US senators were caught off guard by the announcement of the Chabahar port deal, but the Obama administration has batted for India.

"For India to be able to contribute to the economic development of Afghanistan, it needs access that it does not readily have across its land boundary. And India is seeking to deepen its energy relationship with the Central Asian countries and looking for routes that would facilitate that," assistant secretary of state for South Asia Nisha Desai Biswal told the Senate foreign relations committee on Tuesday.

Biswal assured the senators that the Obama administration has been "very clear with the Indians what our security concerns have been and we would continue to engage them on those issues".


http://www.firstpost.com/world/us-b...oject-2799596.html?utm_source=fp_top_internal

there are many on this forum who want to beleve that USA will oppose indo iran chahbahaar deal but they forget USA itself has done a deal with iran to lift sanctions on iran as USA itself wants a corridor to central asia thru iran

and we will make that happen no matter what people say or want to beleve

and india has already shared its views on it will all the relevent parties and Israel and saudi arabia and UAE about chahbahaar deal....

rest keep speculating but niether israel nor USA are against indo iran deal on chahbahaar corridoar

 

[]_. 0 ]< ! 3*]

Chabahar port success depends upon peace process in Afghanistan and which is nearly not possible with in decade. On other hand security position in Pakistan is far better then Afghanistan. I don't know what makes India to invest in chabahar port.As far as i understand is military motive other then that its not seems to be beneficial.

 

[CHACHA"G"]

hello all
One simple question , Is this the reason behind the sell of Taliban chief by IRAN???????????
Sir please keep the USA media in mind they are openly saying that Mr Mansor was coming from IRAN , ???? and USA have intelligence reports ,,,,,,,,, my question is that IRAN who provide that intelligence????????
Now look at this report , USA backing IRAN's Port ,,,,,,,,wwwwwwwwwwwoooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwww
Thank you all

 

[GURU DUTT]

Chabahar port success depends upon peace process in Afghanistan and which is nearly not possible with in decade. On other hand security position in Pakistan is far better then Afghanistan. I don't know what makes India to invest in chabahar port.As far as i understand is military motive other then that its not seems to be beneficial.

wrong again sir chabahar is not just for aghanistan but from iran to afgahnistan "and central asia" and maybe even russia

 

[Taimoor Khan]

The size and strength of Chinese economy/trade and how it effects the global economy, Vs the three countries involved , India, Iran and Afghanistan, in this wet dream to "out flank" Pakistan and China!! What they are going to export among themselves? Pan parag, dry fruits, Afghan hasish?

Do the yanks know that Pakistan and China give monkies to these silly shinanigans as it has zero effect on the purpose for which CPEC was envisage.

Iran would act stupid if it wants to be part of this so called "outflanking" of China and Pakistan, if there is such thing! They can kiss goodbye to the world biggest market and power hungry nation which is China. CPEC would easily give them the shortest possible route to export their oil and gas to China.

As for India, ofcourse, there is no doubt they are working on this after getting the nod from the sugardaddy, the uncle sam.

 

[Winchester]

wrong again sir chabahar is not just for aghanistan but from iran to afgahnistan "and central asia" and maybe even russia

You just proved his point

The Taliban control Southern Afghanistan

 

[GURU DUTT]

You just proved his point

The Taliban control Southern Afghanistan

we dont have any issues with who controls who or what in afghanistan we made a deal with afghan government and its there problem to give the route required security as for taliban why will they create problems for there own people in getting rich and getting new source of income just because india is building it and its coming thru iran ?

The size and strength of Chinese economy/trade and how it effects the global economy, Vs the three countries involved , India, Iran and Afghanistan, in this wet dream to "out flank" Pakistan and China!! What they are going to export among themselves? Pan parag, dry fruits, Afghan hasish?

Do the yanks know that Pakistan and China give monkies to these silly shinanigans as it has zero effect on the purpose for which CPEC was envisage.

Iran would act stupid if it wants to be part of this so called "outflanking" of China and Pakistan, if there is such thing! They can kiss goodbye to the world biggest market and power hungry nation which is China. CPEC would easily give them the shortest possible route to export their oil and gas to China.

As for India, ofcourse, there is no doubt they are working on this after getting the nod from the sugardaddy, the uncle sam.

your so so wrong brother Chahbahar is not in any way against Chinese intersts or there New Silk Road to central asia and Europe

see take a map and see the diffrence between Kashgar to nearest production facilty /manufacturing cities in China and there distance from kashghar and Gawadar and how much distance china needs to cover to send its goods to central asia and Euorope (new silk road)

http://thediplomat.com/2014/05/chinas-new-silk-road-vision-revealed/


now tell me what will be chinas priority to do trade waia land in Xi’an in central China before stretching west through Lanzhou (Gansu province), Urumqi (Xinjiang), and Khorgas (Xinjiang), which is near the border with Kazakhstan. The Silk Road then runs southwest from Central Asia to northern Iran before swinging west through Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. From Istanbul, the Silk Road crosses the Bosporus Strait and heads northwest through Europe, including Bulgaria, Romania, the Czech Republic, and Germany. Reaching Duisburg in Germany, it swings north to Rotterdam in the Netherlands. From Rotterdam, the path runs south to Venice, Italy

or the CEPC where it again has to cover all the pakistan land distance after passing to karakoram pass to reach gawadar where the good will again be loaded on ships to join maratime silk route (why will they not keep using the orignal Silk Road or the maratime silk route)

in short :

1. CEPC is just Plan B /Insurence policy for trade if the chinese martime trade is effected in SCS to mallacka straits to bay of bengal to suez canal and beyond think about it

2. Chahbahaar corridoar is not even compition to chinese trade corridoar /New Silk route /Maratime Silk Route

 

[Winchester]

we dont have any issues with who controls who or what in afghanistan we made a deal with afghan government and its there problem to give the route required security

The govt. of Afghanistan is actually the mayor office of Kabul.

taliban why will they create problems for there own people in getting rich and getting new source of income just because india is building it and its coming thru iran ?

Except they don't have this baniya mentality where money is everything.

And after the Kuldeep Yadev episode I don't think Pakistan is going to sit quite and let Indian goods pass through Southern Afghanistan.