Pakistan attempts to block Indian cargo flights to Afghanistan

Jan 23, In what is by all accounts a conspicuous infringement of common flying standards, Pakistan has been stopping Indian flights to Afghanistan. In recent incidents, Pakistan's civil aviation authority denied passage to SpiceJet cargo flights to Afghanistan thrice in a week ago of December and after that on January 11 and 14.

India has taken up the issue with Islamabad, with the Ministry of External Affairs sending a note verbale to Pakistan.

The development comes even as New Delhi has been trying to interface landlocked Afghanistan with India and rest of the world. Strikingly, Pakistan has been blocking the land course for trade between India and Afghanistan.

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

Talking at the first historically speaking India Central Asia Afghanistan Dialog in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on January 13, Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had stated, "Joint efforts of India, Iran and Afghanistan have prompted the development of the Chabahar Port in Iran as a feasible and operational exchange course to associate with Afghanistan and possibly to Central Asia. Chabahar gives a a shining example of what strong partnership can achieve to overcome any obstacles."

India has effectively sent an extremely considerable amount of wheat to Afghanistan using the Chabahar port.

India assumed control over the tasks of a piece of Shahid Beheshti Port, Chabahar in Iran a month ago. On December 24, 2018, India, Iran and Afghanistan together initiated the workplace of the Indian SPV - India Ports Global Chabahar Free Zone (IPGCFZ), at Chabahar. The physical assume control of the terminal territory, load taking care of gear and place of business was finished by December 29, 2018.

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

Central Asia nations have also praised Chabahar. Uzbek ambassador to India Farhod Arziev has commended the project saying a railway project in Afghanistan can associate Uzbekistan with Chabahar.

Iran is holding Chabahar Day International Conference on February 26 at the Chabahar port to give an overview of the port to the world. India is also wanting to create 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.