port flagged offNew Delhi, Oct 29 (PTI) India today sent its firstconsignment of wheat for Afghanistan to be shipped through theChabahar port in Iran, seen as a "landmark" move tooperationalise the strategic transit route.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Afghancounterpart Salahuddin Rabbani flagged off the shipment ofwheat from India to Afghanistan through video conferencing,the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said.
"The shipment of wheat is a landmark moment as it willpave the way for operationalisation of the Chabahar port as analternate, reliable and robust connectivity for Afghanistan,"it said in a statement.
On the occasion, Swaraj reiterated India's continuedcommitment to support reconstruction, capacity building andsocio-economic development of Afghanistan, including under theframework of the New Development Partnership that she hadjointly announced with Rabbani last month during the meetingof India-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Council.
"She also renewed commitment to work closely withregional and international partners to bring peace, security,stability and prosperity in Afghanistan," the MEA said.
It said the Chabahar port in Iran will open up newopportunities for trade and transit from and to Afghanistanand enhance trade and commerce between the three countries andthe wider region.
"The two Foreign Ministers welcomed the fact that this isthe first shipment that would be going to Afghanistan throughthe Chabahar port after trilateral agreement on Establishmentof International Transport and Transit Corridor was signedduring the visit of the Prime Minister of India to Iran in May2016," the MEA said.
Six more wheat shipments will be sent to Afghanistan overthe next few months.
Swaraj and Rabbani also reaffirmed their commitment tocontinue their cooperation for the benefit and prosperity ofthe people of Afghanistan and the region.
India and Iran have already expressed commitment forearly completion of the work on the Chabahar Port project.
Chabahar port, located in the Sistan-Balochistan provinceon the energy-rich Persian Gulf nation's southern coast, liesoutside the Persian Gulf and can be easily accessed fromIndia's western coast, bypassing Pakistan.
The port is likely to ramp up trade between India,Afghanistan and Iran in the wake of Pakistan denying transitaccess to New Delhi for trade with the two countries.
India has been closely working with Afghanistan to createalternate and reliable access routes, bypassing Pakistan.
An air freight corridor between India and Afghanistan wasalso operationalised earlier this year to give a fillip to thebilateral trade relations. PTI MPB ASKASK.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.
