KABUL - Indian State Minister for External Affairs Shri Muraleedharan says the US has shown an understanding of the importance of the Chabahar Port for continued humanitarian supplies to Afghanistan. 
The facility was necessary to province Afghanistan with economic alternatives, he said in a written reply to Lok Saba.
India was participating in the development of the first phase of the Shahid Behesti Port in Chabahar in cooperation with the government of Iran, the state minister said.
He added India Ports Global Limited had taken over port operations in December 2018 and had since been successfully handling cargo.
Afghanistan has also started using the facility. It sent its first export consignment to India
Subsequently, it has sent three more consignments to India through Chabahar in June 2019.
Muraleedharan was asked whether the development and Indian operations at Chabahar were adversely affected by the ongoing tensions between the US and Iran. If so, what are the details thereof and the diplomatic measures that are being deployed to safeguard India’s strategic and commercial interests? (Pajhwok)