India on Sunday flagged off a shipment of wheat for Afghanistan through Iran’s Chabahar port—marking the operationalisation of the port for the trans-shipment of goods from India to the landlocked country.
The Indian government has promised a supply 1.1 million tonnes of wheat for the people of Afghanistan on a grant basis, according to the Asian News International (ANI).
Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, her Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani and Javad Zarif of Iran hailed the first shipment going to Afghanistan through the Chabahar port.
“The shipment is part of commitment made by the government of India to supply 1.1 million tonnes of wheat for the people of Afghanistan on grant basis,” an Indian foreign ministry statement said. “Six more wheat shipments will be sent to Afghanistan over the next few months,” it said.
“The wheat shipment is a landmark moment as it will pave the way for operationalisation of the Chabahar port as an alternate, reliable and robust connectivity for Afghanistan. It will open up new opportunities for trade and transit from and to Afghanistan and enhance trade and commerce between the three countries (India, Iran, Afghanistan) and the wider region,” the statement added.
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