Bypassing Iran? Pakistan Offers Kazakhstan Access to the Indian Ocean

Pakistan has offered Kazakhstan access to the ports of Karachi, Port Qasim, and Gwadar for cargo shipments. Islamabad is also ready to discuss joint projects in free economic zones, Orda.kz reports.

The proposal was made by Pakistan’s Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, during a meeting with Kazakhstan’s ambassador, Yerzhan Kistafin.

Pakistan’s seaports could serve as transit hubs for Kazakhstan and the wider Central Asian region, providing access to markets in the Persian Gulf, Africa, and Southeast Asia,the minister said.

The two sides discussed ways to simplify the transportation of Kazakhstani goods and improve cooperation between the relevant agencies. No concrete agreements have yet been announced.

Kazakhstan is currently prioritizing a route through Iran. It plans to lease 15 hectares at the port of Bandar Abbas and build a cargo terminal there. The route would provide access to the Persian Gulf and markets in India, East Africa, and Southeast Asia.

Kazakhstani officials previously described the Pakistani route as a backup. Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin said it could be used if the Iranian route proved unworkable. Cargo would have to travel through Afghanistan to reach Pakistan’s ports.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Original author: Alexander Zhdanov

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