Delhi, Kabul, Tehran to develop transit, transport facilities

In a move set to give a major push in trade between India, Iran, Afghanistan and beyond, the three countries agreed to develop transit and transport facilities.

A meeting of ministers of India, Iran and Afghanistan held in Tehran from January 4 to 5 took the decision to open the Iranian port of Chahbahar and develop road link between Iran and Afghanistan to facilitate trade among the three countries and beyond to Central Asia and Europe.

For India, this will help in circumventing the hurdle of transiting goods through Pakistan and give easier access of Indian goods into Afghan market.

India will upgrade the Chahbahar port in south eastern Iran and also lay a 130-200km road between the port and Kabul. As this road will connect to the mainland road of Afghanistan and it will make access to Central Asian markets much easier, industry circles here say.

Pakistan has refused to allow Indian goods and vehicles transit through its territory. This, along with the ban on over-flight, has made improvement in India-Afghanistan trade relations.

The talks between Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Digvijay Singh, Afghan Trade Minister Syed Mustafa Kazemi and Iranian Transport Minister Ahmad Khorram focused on putting into operation the Chahbahar-Melak-Zaranj-Dilaram road.