Ashgabat agreement

The Ashgabat agreement is a multimodal transport agreement between India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan for creating an international transport and transit corridor facilitating transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf.[1][2] The agreement came into force in April, 2016.

The agreement was signed by Iran, Oman, Qatar, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on April 25, 2011. Qatar subsequently withdrew from the agreement in 2013. Kazakhstan joined the grouping in 2016.Pakistan has joined the agreement in 2016[3]India formally joined Ashgabat agreement on 2nd February 2018[4]. Turkmenistan is the depository state for the agreement.[5][6][7]

Objective

The objective of this agreement is to enhance connectivity within Eurasian region and synchronize it with other transport corridors within that region including the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

Indian plans

Indian government on March 23, 2016 has requested approval for acceding to the agreement. India’s intention to accede to the Ashgabat Agreement would now be conveyed to the Depository State (Turkmenistan). India got the consent of the founding members of the agreement Turkmenistan, Oman, Uzbekistan and Iran and got the formal entry to the Ashgabat agreement on 3 February 2018[8]

Connectivity

North–South Transport Corridor

For enhanced connectivity, the Ashgabat agreement will also synchronize with the International North–South Transport Corridor encompassing ship, rail including Trans-Caspian railway, and road route for moving freight between India, Russia, Iran, Europe and Central Asia. The route primarily involves moving freight from India, Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia via ship, rail and road.[9]

Eurasian Railway Connectivity

This agreement will also leverage the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Tajikistan (TAT) rail line from 2013, Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey transportation corridor in 2014, Iran-Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan railroad and TRACECA (Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia) comprising the EU and 14 Eastern European, South Caucasus and Central Asian states.

Hajigak–Chabahar railway

As of 2011, India is finalising a plan to construct a 900-km railway line that will connect Chabahar port in Iran, being built with Indian help, to the mineral-rich Hajigak region of Afghanistan.[10][11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://indianexpress.com/article/world/world-news/pakistan-joins-ashgabat-agreement-lapis-lazuli-corridor-4396500/
  2. ↑ http://www.dawn.com/news/1233450/land-routes-finalised-to-boost-trade-with-central-asia
  3. ↑ http://indianexpress.com/article/world/world-news/pakistan-joins-ashgabat-agreement-lapis-lazuli-corridor-4396500/
  4. ↑ "India joins Ashgabat agreement". The Indian Express. 2018-02-02. Retrieved 2018-02-14.
  5. ↑ http://www.dawn.com/news/1298791/pakistan-joins-ashgabat-agreement-lapis-lazuli-corridor
  6. ↑ http://tribune.com.pk/story/1245003/pm-nawaz-ghani-discuss-regional-issues-ashgabat/
  7. ↑ http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/362727-Pakistan-announces-to-join-Ashgabat-Agreement-Lap
  8. ↑ The Hans India - India accedes to Ashgabat agreement
  9. ↑ "Despite U.S. opposition, Iran to be transport hub for North-South Corridor". The Hindu. 31 May 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  10. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-11-02. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
  11. ↑ http://www.thefrontierpost.com/?p=75158
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