BACKGROUND- - AFGHANISTAN: DEVELOPMENT OF PERSIAN GULF PORT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R00890A000600060078-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 12, 2003
• Sequence Number: 78
• Publication Date: November 30, 1955
• Content Type: BRIEF

NaC BHIEFIroved For Release~03/03/~1~RDP79R00890A0006~.0~0~;EB 19~b
BACKG~tt~UND--AFGhAN ISTAN :
DEVELOPMENT OF PEERS IAN GULF PERT
I. Development of the Persian Gulp part of Chahbajar (a natural harbor,
a few miles within Iran near western border of Pakistan) offers a
possible alternative to present dilemma of Afghan trade routes.
A,~ Afghans are presently. favoring trans-USSR routes over tradi -
tional trans-Pakistan route (see map) which is subject to
interruption at whim of Pak Gov't.
$~ Although natural harbor probably could be developed without
great difficulty, another factor is that present ABC-mile
road through Western Iran tv Afghan border is little better than
caravan trail, would need substantial engineeringa
II. however, such development would definitely serve interests of Iran,
both in terms of aiding economic progress of its rVest and by pro-
viding good route for marketing of Iranian POL in Afghanistan.
A. Advantages for Afghanistan, in addition to providing possible
alternative to either trans-USSR or Trans-Pakistan trade
routes, would be:
l .Access to Iranian ( as opposed to Soviet) PC3L.
2, A direct route to Helmand Palley development area,.
Afghanistan's major area of economic development,
III? Although US strategic interests would be well served by nothing more
than Afghan acceptance of the Chahbahar alternative (with a con-
sequent diminishment in Afghan dependence an Soviet trade routes and
POL), this port could also serve as a valuable ad.iunct to A4LDO
facilities in the area,
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