Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan sign transportation agreement

This is either tied into or in direct conflict with the two north-south axes already undertaken and explained below.

Khalilzad said the United States and other donors were restoring the Afghan ring road and regional spurs that would create two north-south axes terminating at the Pakistan port of Gwadar and Iranian port of Chabahar facing the Arabian Sea. Planning is underway for rail and pipelines connecting Central Asia to South Asia and world markets through the Arabian Sea, he said.
#msg-4419898

It is nonsensical to believe the United States and other donors would create such a powerful geopolitical tool as two north-south axes terminating at Gwadar and Chabahar which would leave Iran a more powerful nation.

We know that the United States is already battling for influence or a takeover of Gwadar under the circumstances I would think Chabahar is next.
#msg-4419898
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I do not see how the United States can let the Iranian port of Chabahar grow in influence without attacking Iran.

Note: The "heart" of Central Asia -- as its president, Islam Karimov, calls it -- Uzbekistan has become an object of interest and contention for world and regional power centers due to its geostrategic significance. The major players are the United States, Russia and China, all of which covet access to its abundant energy and mineral resources, and view it as an essential element in their designs for dominant influence in the region.
#msg-5001056

-Am

Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan sign transportation agreement

Tashkent, jan 5, IRNA -- Representatives from Iran, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan signed here the articles of association of a tripartite agreement on transportation cooperation which will provide the Central Asia with access to the international waters.
The presidents of the three countries signed a tripartite agreement for transportation cooperation in Tehran in 2004.

According to the agreement, a new route will be made available for transportation of commodities among Iran, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan and that the Central Asian countries could get access to the international waters.

A council will be established by the three countries to monitor transport of goods from Tashkent in Uzbekistan to Chabahar port in southern Iran and from Afghanistan to Chabahar.

The articles of association of the tripartite agreement was signed by the caretaker of Iran's Ministry of Roads and Transportation Ahmad Sadeq Bonab, Afghan Minister of Public Works Sohrab Safari and Uzbek Acting Minister of Transportation Feyzollah Yov.

http://www.payvand.com/news/05/jan/1038.html