Amid fast deteriorating ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Kabul is shifting its focus from Karachi port to Iran’s Bandar Abbas and Chabahar ports for trade and access to the Indian Ocean Region.
Interestingly, China transported goods to Afghanistan recently via Iran’s Bandar Abbas port. The container from China to Afghanistan contained 1,000 rolls of iron, it has been learnt. While Bandar Abbas is a nodal point for INSTC connecting India with Russia via Iran, Chinese transport corridors under BRI in central Asia are gaining pace. Last week, work on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway network was launched.
India is using Chabahar port to send humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and wants to position the port to trade with central Asia via Afghanistan. Earlier, India, Iran, Afghanistan entered into a tripartite agreement for the use of Chabahar port. The trilateral agreement would facilitate hassle-free transport of goods between India and Afghanistan via the Chabahar port that is strategically located in Iran’s southeast.
It has been learnt that Kabul is interested in reviving proposals for railway connectivity between Iran and Afghanistan. Uzbekistan, which has extended its railway network to northern Afghanistan, is keen to join the network via Afghanistan.