NEW DELHI: India and Iran have agreed to take a decision on Chabahar port by March-end, during the meeting of External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid with his Iranian counterpart Javad Sharif there, official sources said.
Khurshid and Sharif today met and “Indian interest in Chabahar port figured prominently during the meeting between them and it was agreed that specific proposals on the port could be finalized by Nauroz holidays in Iran (in March-end),” they said.
The two sides also reviewed the entire expanse of the bilateral relationship and emphasized the strong political will in both countries to nurture bilateral relations.
“There was an understanding that huge opportunities exist to enhance the relationship. Connectivity was a major issue of discussion including the International North South Transport Corridor, which will enable reduction in travel time by 40 per cent for freight between India, Afghanistan, Central Asia and Russia via Iran,” official sources said.
Khurshid also held a separate meeting with Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah and discussed prospects of a revival of shelved project of 1990s for constructing a deep sea pipe line between the two countries, they said here.
In the meeting with Omani Minister, prospects of the deep sea gas pipeline between India and Oman shelved in the 1990s as technology was not ripe, was revived…The issue figured in discussions with both countries following success of deep sea pipeline in the North Sea, they said.
Other issues that figured were usage of Iranian funds with India and Consular matters including the return of two Indian nationals -Mohammad Hussain Khan and Pandya Sanket, they said.
It was also agreed that, “joint consular committee can meet at an early date to address issues of a consular nature.
Regional issues discussed included Afghanistan, developments in the Middle East and the P5 plus One discussions with Iran.” –PTI
