Indian aim

Published November 20, 2018

INDIA is building 12 dams and several infrastructural projects in Afghanistan. Simultaneously, it is developing Chabahar port in Iran to bypass Pakistan’s land and sea route for both Indian and Afghan exports.

Being a land-locked country, Afghanistan had to depend on transit trade facility through Pakistan. Now, under Indian pressure, Afghanistan has adopted expensive air corridors for export of its dry and perishable fresh fruit to Turkey, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and China.

To balance its trade deficit with China, Afghanistan has decided to export to China US$800 million worth of pine nuts (20 tonnes a day until end of the season). The first consignment of 20 tonnes of Afghan pine nuts reached China on Nov 7. Besides pine nuts, Afghanistan will export to China pistachio nuts, and cumin, saffron and semi-precious stones.

Several countries, including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bhutan resent India’s interference in their internal and external affairs. India stands exposed as the one trying to isolate Pakistan.

Nikhat Shaheen
Lahore

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Energy inflation
Updated 23 May, 2024

Energy inflation

The widening gap between the haves and have-nots is already tearing apart Pakistan’s social fabric.
Culture of violence
23 May, 2024

Culture of violence

WHILE political differences are part of the democratic process, there can be no justification for such disagreements...
Flooding threats
23 May, 2024

Flooding threats

WITH temperatures in GB and KP forecasted to be four to six degrees higher than normal this week, the threat of...
Bulldozed bill
Updated 22 May, 2024

Bulldozed bill

Where once the party was championing the people and their voices, it is now devising new means to silence them.
Out of the abyss
22 May, 2024

Out of the abyss

ENFORCED disappearances remain a persistent blight on fundamental human rights in the country. Recent exchanges...
Holding Israel accountable
22 May, 2024

Holding Israel accountable

ALTHOUGH the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor wants arrest warrants to be issued for Israel’s prime...