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Pakistan denies passage of Indian freight flights to Afghanistan; India raises the issue with Islamabad

WION
New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaWritten By: Sidhant SibalUpdated: Jan 23, 2019, 04:41 PM IST
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File Photo Photograph:(Zee News Network)

Story highlights

India raised the matter with Islamabad with Ministry of External Affairs sending a ''note verbale'' to Pakistan

In what seems to be a blatant violation of civil aviation norms, Pakistan civil aviation authority has denied passage to SpiceJet cargo flights to Afghanistan thrice in last week of December and on January 11 and 14. 

India raised the matter with Islamabad with Ministry of External Affairs sending a ''note verbale'' to Pakistan. 

The development comes even as New Delhi has been trying to connect landlocked Afghanistan with India and rest of the world. 

Pakistan has been blocking the land route for trade between Afghanistan and India. 

The India Afghanistan air corridor, launched in 2017, connects Afghanistan with Delhi and Mumbai. The Chabahar port being built in Iran with India's help also provides Afghanistan goods gateway to the world. 

Speaking at first-ever India Central Asia Afghanistan Dialogue in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on 13th January, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, "Joint efforts of India, Iran and Afghanistan have led to the development of the Chabahar Port in Iran as a viable and operational trade route to connect to Afghanistan and potentially to Central Asia. Chabahar provides a shining example of what strong partnership can achieve to overcome any obstacles." 

India has already sent a very substantial quantity of wheat to Afghanistan using the Chabahar port. 

India took over the operations of a part of Shahid Beheshti Port, Chabahar in Iran last month. On 24th December 2018, India, Iran and Afghanistan jointly inaugurated the office of the Indian SPV - India Ports Global Chabahar Free Zone (IPGCFZ), at Chabahar. The physical take-over of the terminal area, cargo handling equipment and Office building was completed by 29th December 2018.

Commercial operations began at IPGCFZ with the arrival of a vessel. A Cyprus registered bulk carrier had arrived at Chabahar with 72458 MT of corn cargo. The vessel MV MACHERAS berthed at the terminal at 0130 hrs on 30th December 2018. 

Central Asia countries have also lauded Chabahar. Uzbek ambassador to India Farhod Arziev has lauded the project saying a railway project in Afghanistan can connect Uzbekistan with Chabahar.

Iran is holding Chabahar Day International Conference on 26 February at the Chabahar port to give an overview of the port to the world. India is also planning to develop Chabahar-Zahedan railway link that will link Zaranj-Delaram road built by India in Afghanistan and bring Iran and Afghanistan closer. 

India plays a significant role as a development partner with its assistance exceeding $3 billion.

New Delhi is Afghanistan's largest donor in the region.