- - - 1 Mr. Qais Mohammadi Mr. and Pakistan Afghanistan : The Decay of Geo-strategic Importance of of Importance Decay of Geo-strategic The Chabahar: South Asia: Countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, , Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Asia: Countries such as South Introduction This research This paper research is aimed at finding the long run consequences (for Pakistan and Afghan Afghanistan is a landlocked which country, is mostly using its neighbor’s (more than 80% transit 1. 1.Assistant Professor, Kardan University Afghanistan University Kabul Kardan 1.Assistant Professor, ulation (1.252 billion) in the world (NSO, page). Lanka and Bhutan are located in South Asia. India among these countries have the second largest pop largest second have the countries among these Asia. India in South are located and Bhutan Lanka the currently available routes that can connect with South Asia. This trend will lead to lead will This trend Asia. Asia with South Central connect can routes that available currently the Afghanistan and Pakistan. becoming the transit hub of the two regions, not Chabahar is a better alternative for Afghanistan to connect to open sea and get rid of all the pressure the of all rid get and sea open to connect to Afghanistan for alternative better a is Chabahar for all On the other hand, Iran sees Chabahar as an alternative Pakistan has been putting for a long time. always used their transit routes as a tool to achieve their goals in Afghanistan. Afghan businessmen Afghanistan. in goals their to achieve as a tool routes transit always used their have sustained a lot of losses, because of sudden increase in tariffs, transit fees and demurrage. Some products. agriculture rotten in result which Pakistan days in for several stopped are Afghan trucks times, for granting landlocked countries access to international seas, Pakistan has violated the Afghanistan the seas, Pakistan has violated countries access to international for granting landlocked has Pakistan decade. last in the times 110 more than (APTTA) Agreement Trade and Transit Pakistan through Pakistan) transit routes to import from and export to the rest of the world (Mamoon, pg. 23). provisions special makes which on Law of Sea, UN Convention to the with its commitment Not in line Key Words: Chabahar, Central Asia, Geo-Economic, Geo-Politic and South Asia Geo-Economic, Geo-Politic and South Asia, Central Chabahar, Key Words: fees, and better infrastructure. This will consequently decrease the geo economic, geopolitics and Geo and geopolitics economic, geo the decrease consequently This will infrastructure. and better fees, and will limit Pakistan. Afghanistan as a whole strategic importance of Afghanistan and Pakistan and directly connecting Chabahar to Central Asian Region do (CARs). To cheap transit facilities, more or provide Afghanistan in of cargo so, Iran would undermine the security connects South Asia with Central Asia. However, the research found out it as beneficial to diversify the diversify to beneficial as it out found research the However, Asia. Central with Asia South connects Asia bypassing both south and central long run Iran would connect In the Afghanistan. of transit routes istan) of investment on Chabahar Chabahar. is an alternative to any other route from Pakistan that Abstract

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JANUARY 2018 JANUARY Journal of Economics and Management Sciences VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 ISSUE 1, VOLUME accessing thesemarkets. from India abstaining off better is 3). Pakistan page Therefore, (Mamoon India to out lose to likely are which products Pakistani other are there pharmaceuticals like Much markets. significant most their to products ofIndian origin will dominate CARs, asaresult, Pakistan will not beable to sell its products transit route forIndiatoaccess Afghanistan andCARs.Mostlikely, cheaper pharmaceuticals and other its market share in Afghanistan at the costofPakistan. This wellfurtherdeteriorate, If Pakistan provides in increased contrary,share has the market India On its for Afghanistan. lost tariffs clearly preferential ever, latest tensions between the two countries has highly affected their trade turnover and Pakistan has Markets.rn CARs because Pakistan is rightfully concerned about losingitsshareinthe Afghan andCentral Asian and beyond (Mamoon page 4).Unfortunately, none of these routes is currently used to connect India to Afghanistan, whichwouldgreatly reduce thelogistics cost ofshippinggoodsfromIndiato Afghanistan and India between route possible shortest the probably is km, 800 to up extends roughly which route, geo-economic and geo-strategic importance of the countries meanwhile, Wagah-Peshawar-Torkham Central Asia, whichcouldincreasetransitrevenueofbothPakistanand Afghanistan andhighly increase opment of thisregion. -Torkham-Aqina is not the only route that can connect South Asia with and otherproductsrespectively. This means connecting SouthandCentral Asia isvital for thedevel and South page 4).CARs Asia seeeachotheraspotential markets fortheirabundantenergy resources cals to CARs but its share in total exports to CARs is only 25.5 % of its total exports to CARs (Mamoon pharmaceuti exports also India CARs. to exports total of share % 42.5 with CARs to exports forming potential market for goods produced in South Asia; for example, pharmaceuticals are Pakistan’s top a per is Central Asia Furthermore, commodities. their for market a find to wants who (CARs), Republics regional countries. Besides, India’s rapid growth has attracted the attention of energy rich Central Asian lion population isawell-establishedpotential market forcommodities and productsproducedinmany bil South 1.7 routes. with secure Asia most and effective most shortest, the via them connect and kets Asia. crease to more than 250 million people. Therefore, it is apotential market for goodsproduced in South If weadd some other countries of the region with this,like Iraq, Syria andIran the population will in stan arelocated in Central Asia. The total population of thisregionisestimated about 68million people. creasing demandsforenergy. and commodities. market forgoodsSouth Asia isofinteresttoenergybecause oftheirin richCARs 3. mar new explore to vital is it region the emergingin are rapidly economies growing that and Now 2. Officially 40% and unofficially above 70% ofAfghanistan’s imports come from Pakistan, how Importance ofconnectingCentral Asia withSouth Asia Central Asia: Countries such as , , , and Kazakh India isamongthemostrapidgrowingeconomies of Asia, whichhasalsobeenasapotential Pakistan’s Concern: ------69

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Iran located in the cross roads of three continents (Asia, and Africa) is one of the coun Africa) is one of the in the cross roads of three continents (Asia, Europe and Iran located India’s Perspective of Chabahar: India’s Chabahar: By creating Gawadar sea port, not only Pakistan wants to be the only supplier of goods be the only supplier wants to port, not only Pakistan Gawadar sea By creating to Cen 5. Asian markets but also has always been very keen to en Central in the India is not only interested Thanks to Iran who came up with the idea of currently Chabahar-Afghanistan-CARs. Chabahar port Chabahar Chabahar-Afghanistan-CARs. of currently with the idea up Thanks to Iran who came 4. tries whose strategic location has brought it many transit opportunities. The strategic port of Chabahar, port of Chabahar, The strategic has brought it many transit opportunities. location tries whose strategic 6. Iran’s Perspective of Chabahar: 6. Iran’s its strategic presence in the region. In the long term, it will act as a hub for Indian trading operations to its strategic presence in the region. In the long term, it will act as 4). Asia, (Sodhi page venture into the oil and mineral-rich Central lead to, Iran becoming the connecting bridge between Central Asia and South Asia, leaving out Afghan out Asia, leaving Asia and South Central between bridge connecting the to, Iran becoming lead establish also will but Afghanistan in leverage increased have only not will India Pakistan. and istan Karachi-Torkham-Aqina is several hundred kilometers shorter, once invested on Chabahar, Iran can on Chabahar, invested once shorter, kilometers hundred is several Karachi-Torkham-Aqina will That incentives. of other provision and fee transit cutting by rout this of length for the compensate route to Kabul, Iran and Central Asia. Chabahar acquired further importance when Pakistan refused to Asia. Chabahar acquired further importance route to Kabul, Iran and Central rout of the initial in Punjab, (Sodhi page 1). However, border Wagah provide a land route for India via gage with Afghanistan economically and strategically, thus, it finds Chabahar port as an easier sea-land easier an as port Chabahar finds it thus, strategically, and economically Afghanistan with gage of Central Asia, of (Sodhi Central page 2). One way or Pakistan another, is losing its most significant markets to products, but also because, Pakistan only because of its low quality India and the rest of the world, not is becoming a not so friendly neighbor in the region. cities of Afghanistan namely , , Kabul and Mazar-e-sharif. In fact, if this project contin project if this In fact, and Mazar-e-sharif. Kabul Kandahar, Herat, namely Afghanistan of cities region rich resource the to\from passage clear have can trade India’s hurdle, any without progress to ues traders, and other ports of Iran (Bandar Abas) which is currently used by Indians to connect to Central to connect to used by Indians is currently Abas) which (Bandar ports of Iran other and traders, to four major access easier and cheaper provide network will the of this project, Asia. On completion movement of trade to\from Afghanistan, (Sodhi page 1). As a matter of fact, Afghan and Indian policy Afghan and Indian policy As of fact, a matter Afghanistan, (Sodhi page 1). of trade to\from movement Afghan by used being currently are which Pakistan of ports the to alternative an as port this see makers The port has been declared a Free Trade Zone, situated about 70 km west of the equally important important equally 70 km west of the about situated Zone, Trade Free a declared been has port The position of this port is well suited for The geographical Pakistan. Chinese-funded Gawadar port of is strategically located on the southeastern coast of Iran, an extension of Makran Pakistan’s Coast, in the Sistan and Baluchestan province close to the confluence of with the . lenging the market share of As India. a result, the cheapest and Waga-Peshaw most efficient route of the two markets. will not be used to connect er-Torkham-Aqina circumstance, any products other than Indian origin will be traveling from Gawadar to Iran and then from Gawadar to will be traveling products other than Indian origin any circumstance, chal own, on their markets the to conquer opportunity the Pakistan giving Asia, consequently Central increasing the Geo-economic significance of Pakistan and undermining that Afghanistan. of Because, Under current Iran. through Asia Central with Pakistan connects and Afghanistan surpasses port this tral Asian but also be the sole beneficiary of connecting Central Asia and South Asia. Therefore, highly Therefore, Asia. South and Asia Central connecting of beneficiary sole the be also but Asian tral 3.1: Problem: 3.1: Problem:

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JANUARY 2018 JANUARY Journal of Economics and Management Sciences VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 ISSUE 1, VOLUME Besides, bothPakistanand Afghanistan will remain strategically the besttransit corridor forthe region through toughercompetition with India, Afghanistan andIndiawill gainfromincreased trade turnover. Solution andRecommendations Source: Author’s Compilation will alsoavailtheGeo-economicimportanceofbothPakistanand Afghanistan. but, land on route transit efficient most and shortest the be, Waga-Peshawer-Torkham,only not will it as atransitcountrytoaccess Central Asia thanusing Afghanistan. Yet, if Pakistaniswilling to open 1.1 South Asia. with Central Asia connect to used future, far so the in not be, will Iran Thus transit. for efficient it making Chabahar-Ashgabat via Iran isshorter (1869km)than, Chabahar-Herat-Ashgabat (more than 2500 km), structure in Afghanistan, it is difficult to use its mountainous and troublesome routes. On the other hand, railways which doesn’t make it ideal for transit, specially, given the weak security and economic infra gives it an advantage over Afghanistan in the region. Furthermore, Afghanistan has limited roads and Iran in infrastructure economic and roads systems, railway advanced of existence however,The istan, trough Chabahar Central Afghan from to Asia goods its export will India that assumed is it Currently predicted byUnitedNations,whichwillbeusedtoconnectthesilkwaycorridor, (Ezatipage3). ports sea three the of one is Chabahar in. invest to countries six the all for desirable much be will zone are landlockedincluding Afghanistan makesitanidealtransitcountry. Chabaharbeingafreetrade 1). Moreover, 2000Km of sea border to international waters and large number of neighbors 6 of which ment ofChabaharasafreetradezoneiscrucial to connecting North ofIranwiththesouth,(Ezati page CARs to the open ocean. The plan of developing Chabahar in Iran was completed in 1352. Develop which is located in the south of Oman River, isthe nearest and easiest route of connecting land locked and canmaintain alarge amountoftransitincome thisway. Chabahar-CARS Iran using in benefits more are there that see can we table, comparison following the Considering Chabahar-CARsChabahar-Afghanistan-CARs:Vs It will be inthe interest of thewholeregion to open Waga borderfortransit, Pakistan will gain more 1. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. Short (1869km) Full Law enforcement More developed country Free Trade Zone Economic Infrastructure Safe andSecure Railway available Not mountainous : Chabahar-Afghanistan-CARs 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Limited law enforcement Less developed country towards India No Free trade zone butpreferential behavior Limited economic infrastructure Mostly notsafe andsecure Railways notconstructed Mountainous andcomplicated Longer (more than2500km) - - - 71

Journal of Economics and Management Sciences VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 JANUARY 2018 . - - - - . 4. 5. 6 Forum for National Security Studies (FNSS), Studies Security National for Forum Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation, and Program Ministry of Statistics Pakistan Institute of Trade and Development, MRPA and Development, Pakistan Institute of Trade . نقش آن در توسعه شهر هاي همجوار"، پوهنتون آزاد اسالمی، ایران. آزاد چابهار: فرصتها، تنگناها و راهکارها" پوهنتون تربیت مدرس، ایران. چابهار" نشریه علمی- پژوهشی انجمن علمی معماری و شهرسازی ایران، ایران. New Delhi . دکتر عزتی، عزت هللا. شکری، شمس الدین. )1931(، " بررسی جایگاه چابهار در ترانزیت شمال جنوب و دکتر سادات، زهرا. عبدهللا، بهار. )3931(، " ارزیابی عوامل موثر در توسعه صنعت گردشگری منطقه آزاد پویان، رضا حسین پور. فرزام، حمید صابر. پارسائی، اسماعیل. )0931(، "ظرفیت های مکانی توسعه منطقه NSO. (2015). India statistics book 2015. NSO. book (2015). India statistics Sodhi, H. (2015), “Chabahar – A strategic gateway. gateway. strategic A – “Chabahar (2015), H. Sodhi, CAPS Sardar Patel Bhawan, Patel Bhawan, Sardar Dawood., M & Mukhtar, Z.J. (2010). Extending Transit Facility to India: Implications for Pa Afghanistan. with Trade Bilateral kistan’s keep using Chabahar. keep using Chabahar. Once Chabahar, Iran is used as transit route to access CARs, it would be very hard to reroute the Iran is used as transit Once Chabahar, traders to any other route even if more efficient. Because then, Pakistan will not only be com would run, Iran long In the for markets. India with also but routes for transit Iran with peting traders to that can convince infrastructure much better and treatment provide easier and better The afghan government has to provide preferential treatment to all Indian transits in Afghani in to all Indian transits treatment provide preferential has to The afghan government stan. Af with and cooperate in this regard decisions their should reconsider policymakers Pakistani national interest. ghanistan and Iran for their own Afghan policymakers should never stop trying to convince Pakistan for opening Waga border. border. Waga opening Pakistan for trying to convince never stop should policymakers Afghan their exports to India. border for Waga unless otherwise required, use And should always, in standard transit infrastructure more funds to establish should attract The afghan government as a transit route. is a choice for Indian traders Afghanistan the country so that Afghanistan should continue to diversify its import routes and should abstain from depending from depending and should abstain its import routes to diversify should continue Afghanistan behavior of Pakistan. the notorious keeping in mind on one country, 3. 2. 1. 6. 4. 5. 2. 3. 1. References:

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