KABUL - A trilateral meeting between deputy foreign ministers from Iran, Afghanistan and Indian foreign secretary in Tehran on Sunday stressed cooperation to best utilize Chabahar Port, a significant commercial venture southeastern Iran, as the shortest transit way to Afghanistan.
“The objective of the meeting was to explore ways to expand trade and transit cooperation, including investment among the three countries starting with Chahbahar Port,” the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
The officials agreed that a joint working group comprising representatives from the three countries would meet within next three months at Chahbahar to take the discussion forward.
The statement said it was also agreed that the exact date of the meeting would be decided through diplomatic channels.
Initiated by the Iranian side, the trilateral meeting took place Sunday on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Tehran.
Foreign ministry officials from the three countries discussed key political, economic and international issues and regional security particularly in Afghanistan.
Iran's deputy foreign minister for Asia and Pacific Affairs, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, talked about cultural commonalities between Iran, Afghanistan and India, urging frequent such meetings for the interests of the three sides.
India's Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai said his country was ready to cooperate regarding Chabahar Port, the most closest and economical way to reach Afghanistan in terms of transit and merchandise.
The port offers tremendous opportunities for trade and commerce for India in Afghanistan and Central Asia bypassing Pakistan.
The Afghan official for his part praised the initiative that facilitate Iran and India role in Afghanistan's economy.
The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs hopes the event would be fruitful in giving a boost to regional security and economic situation.
Its spokesman Janan Mosazai told reporters in Kabul a day earlier they hoped the event would provide an opportunity for participating nations to work jointly for enhanced trade activity among the three countries.
Follow up meetings to the trilateral meet would take place after every six months, he said, revealing the next meeting would be discussing joint investment, airline between Kabul, Chabahar and the UAE, the establishment of private banks at the port and facilities for traders.
Mosazai said enhanced trade relations with Iran and particularly increased cooperation in transit trade at the Chabahar port were of great importance.
The port is 700 kilometers from southwestern Nimroz and falls 1000 kilometers short compared to the Karachi port in Pakistan for Afghan traders, who export and import 80 percent of their goods through the Karachi port. (Pajhwok)