AFGHANISTAN SECURES ACCESS TO MAJOR SEAPORT IN IRAN
Afghan and Iranian government officials have inked a deal that gives Afghanistan access to the key Iranian Chabahar seaport, which sits on the Indian Ocean. The agreement comes after the fourth Iran-Afghanistan Joint Economic Commission meeting, which focused on boosting regional cooperation and expanding trade relations. Access to the seaport would reduce Afghanistan’s dependence on other regional seaports (namely, Karachi in Pakistan) and provide Iran a much-needed marketplace for its goods. Kabul has maintained good relations with Iran in the decade since the US overthrow of the Taliban, causing headaches for Washington. The U.S. is trying to balance international isolation of Iran, on one hand, with arguments that improved trade relations between Iran and Afghanistan could help bring development and stability to the latter. (Eurasia Review, September 5 2012; The Washington Post, September 5 2012)
INDIA, TAJIKISTAN AGREE TO STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
Following Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon’s official visit to India, the two governments announced a framework for expanded defense cooperation. Speaking after the talks, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee told The Hindu that India and Tajikistan should come together to fight terrorism and provide safety and security. India has recently become more active in the region, with efforts spearheaded by the new “Connect Central Asia” policy that aims to tap into energy-rich resources that were once dominated by China and Russia. The withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan in 2014 is unsettling to Tajiks, who oppose the Taliban and are seeking stronger ties with India to hedge against their return. As part of this expansion, a jointly-run India-Tajik Friendship Hospital is in the planning stages; it will be based in Tajikistan and serve both military and civilians. (Eurasianet, September 4, 2012; The Hindu, September 3, 2012)
CHINA, INDIA RESUME MILITARY EXERCISES
This September Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie became the first Chinese defense minister in eight years to visit India. Among the three-day trip’s more important outcomes, India and China are set to resume joint military exercises after a four-year hiatus. After two rounds of “Hand-in-Hand” joint military maneuvers in 2007 and 2008, military exercises were suspended after China denied a visa to an Indian general in 2010. After the meeting, Indian Defense Minister AK Antony said the two held a “very frank and heart-to-heart discussion on all the issues...including the border areas.” Gen. Liang called the talks “candid and practical.” Gen. Liang caused a minor but awkward diplomatic stir after giving two Indian air force pilots a cash envelope in gratitude for ferrying him from Mumbai to New Delhi. The Indian military is not permitted to receive cash payments as gifts and the money will be turned over to the Department of the Treasury. Gen. Liang was later dissuaded from giving similar cash gifts to an Indian military band. (The Global Times, September 5, 2012; The Pioneer, September 10, 2012)
US STATE DEPARTMENT BLACKLISTS HAQQANI TERRORISTS
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton officially designated the deadly militant Haqqani network, which is responsible for some of the worst attacks on US troops in Afghanistan, as a terrorist organization. The decision came two days before a congressionally-mandated deadline for the administration to act on the issue, either by blacklisting the organization or providing Congress an explanation why it did not. According to a recent editorial by The Washington Post, the network has attacked the U.S. Embassy and U.S.-led military coalition headquarters in Afghanistan, attempted to assassinate Afghan President Hamid Karzai, and has committed numerous attacks on civilians. The designation is critical for elucidating the “incoherent” U.S. policy toward both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Several Haqqani network leaders had been added to sanctions lists previously, but opponents of the designation argued blacklisting the whole organization would negatively impact Washington’s relationship with Pakistan and undermine efforts at reaching a comprehensive political settlement. (The New York Times, September 7, 2012; The Washington Post, September 4, 2012)