US appreciates India's efforts to help Afghanistan via Chabahar Port development in Iran

Ministry of External Affairs has informed of United States' appreciation for India's efforts to assist Afghanistan through modernisation of Chabahar port. MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava on Thursday, October 29 said that US had conveyed its appreciation during recently held 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.

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Development of Chabahar port benefits Afghanistan

While replying to a question regarding United States' go-ahead for developments planned for Chabahar port in Iran, MEA spokesperson said, "Our development assistance and multi-modal connectivity infrastructure and trade links that have been built and our efforts in this regard through our development assistance to Afghanistan to sustain growth and development re over long term was something which was appreciated by US side."

In 2018, India and Iran had signed a $85 million deal for development of Chabahar Port in South-eastern Iran. United States has strict sanctions placed against Iran and also targets any country’s or companies that deal with Iran, but because US has given go-ahead for development of Chabahar port, India has been granted "narrow exemption" from sanctions. Located in Gulf of Oman, Chabahar port provides an alternate route of transport between India and Afghanistan.

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EAM Jaishankar Attends 6-nation India-Central Asia Dialogue

On Wednesday, October 28 EAM Jaishankar held second meeting of India-Central Asia Dialogue with five central Asian countries; Afghanistan was also present during video conference as a special guest. During his opening statement, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar stated that all countries in attendance shared a "commonality" of views when it came to several domestic and international issues and on top of that y faced several common challenges like terrorism, drug trafficking and extremism.

One of main reasons that Afghanistan was present was because three of five Central Asian countries present in meeting share a land border with Afghanistan and refore see resolution of conflict in Afghanistan as beneficial for m.

(With ANI inputs, Im ANI)

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