India, Afghan, Iran verge of signing transitory pact: Abdali

Afghanistan, India and Iran have almost reached a point to sign the trilateral transitory agreement, which will benefit businesses in both countries by providing a shorter route for transporting goods between the two nations, Afghanistan Ambassador Shaida Mohammad Abdali said today.
Abdali said though exports from India to Afghanistan through Pakistan was not a viable route, his country was still trying to seek assistance to make "this (India-Afghanistan via Pakistan) connection viable."
Presently, while Afghanistan is allowed to export to India through Pakistan, India is not allowed to export to Afghanistan through Pakistan. Therefore, Chabahar port (in southeastern Iran) will provide India alternative shorter route for trade to Afghanistan, Abdali explained.

"I am sure once the port comes into operation in full swing, we can look at increasing trade in maximum 5 years," he said at the ninth Export Excellence Awards, organised by Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry here.
Abdali said Afghanistan is not satisfied with what the country is doing in terms of business with India.
"We have more than 100 businesses in Afghanistan but that is not the numbers we desire given the potential and opportunities existing in Afghanistan," he said.

Abdali said Afghanistan is a very business-friendly market and the country wants to see more Indian traders there, given the history both have.

"We have to have relationship with all sectors or areas or businesses," he said.
He said, "Both countries' relationships are beyond history. We are one nation with two states and we have been so. Therefore the will that exists in Afghanistan is exceptional vis-a-vis India and Indian businesses. Therefore urge India to take use of the opportunities and come and invest in Afghanistan."
Four companies led by Steel Authority of India have in-principle agreed to invest in iron ore that would go up as high as USD 11 billion and therefore he was happy to note India is keen in investments in Afghanistan, Abdali said.