#IsolatedPakistan : Iran President inaugurated 1st phase of Chabahar port

Tehran, December 3: The first phase of Chabahar port was inaugurated on Sunday afternoon by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. The port is likely to ramp up trade between India, Afghanistan and Iran in the wake of Pakistan denying transit access to New Delhi for trade with the two countries.

Iranian Foreign Ministry said Zarif referred to the Chabahar port and said it reinforces Iran-India mutual and regional cooperation.

“It also shows the importance of the port in the development of the region and the routes that connect Central Asian states to other countries in the world through the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean,” said Iranian minister Javed Zarif.

India has recently started shipping operations through Chabahar port and sent so far two wheat shipments to Afghanistan. The first phase of the Chabahar port project is known as the Shahid Beheshti port.

"The shipment of wheat is a landmark moment as it will pave the way for operationalization of the Chabahar port as an alternate, reliable and robust connectivity for Afghanistan," the ministry of external affairs (MEA) had said in a statement.

MEA Swaraj made a stopover at Tehran on her return from the Russian city of Sochi where she attended the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

Besides the bilateral pact to develop the Chabahar port, for which India will invest $500 million, a trilateral Agreement on Transport and Transit Corridor has also been signed by India, Afghanistan and Iran.

The port, located in Iran’s southeastern Sistan- Baluchestan Province, was be inaugurated by Iranian President in presence of representatives from India, Afghanistan and several other countries of the region.

With the launch of trade via Chabahar port, trade relations would improve not only between India and Afghanistan, but with Iran and other central Asian countries.