The Afghan Ministry of Transportation is considering to form the shipping sector, in order for ships to be able to conduct commercial activities flying the Afghanistan’s flag in free waters.
After the US put Afghanistan on the list of countries that will be exempted from its sanctions against Iran, Afghanistan is considering ways to improve its economy by creating a shipping line from Chabahar to India.
Except from Afghanistan, the US has issued temporary allotments to: China, India, Italy, Greece, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Turkey.
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Namely, local reports mention that the Afghan Ministry of Transportation plans to establish the shipping line which will be shared with neighboring countries such as Iran and India, along with other countries of the region as well.
In fact, Iran could assists Afghanistan by investing in this sector, despite the fact that previous plans included that the purchase of the ships would be carried out by the Afghan private sector.
Commenting on the occasion, Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of Transportation, Imam Muhammad Varimach, stated that the vessels were bought by Afghan businessmen and will operate on international waters by flying the Afghanistan flag, while the main beneficiary of the project would be the private sector of Afghanistan.
As for the Port of Chabahar, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has granted an exception to some US sanctions that will enable the India-led development of Chabahar port in Iran. This Port is considered as a corridor to advance Afghanistan’s economy.
The waiver permits the construction of a railway line from Chabahar port to Afghanistan, as well as shipments to the latter of non-sanctionable goods, such as food and medicines. Afghanistan will also be allowed to importi Iranian petroleum products, Reuters reported.
