Photo: APNew Delhi: India, Iran and Afghanistan on Sunday discussed the next steps for the full implementation of a connectivity agreement that aims to give landlocked Afghanistan an option to bypass Pakistan and use a route through Iran for trade and commerce. The discussions came on a day when Iranian President Hassan Rouhani inaugurated the first phase of the strategic Chabahar port located in the Sistan-Balochistan province of Iran. It is also considered by India as a gateway for trade with the landlocked Central Asian Republics, besides Afghanistan. In October, India had sent its first consignment of wheat to Afghanistan by sea through the Chabahar port, marking the opening of the new route. Later, Radhakrishnan, along with ministers from Afghanistan and Iran, discussed issues related to the full operationalisation of the Chabahar port, a statement from India’s foreign ministry said.

Source: Mint December 03, 2017 19:52 UTC