The ministry of external affairs has opted to be evasive on Iranian foreign minister, Javad Zarif's controversial offer to Pakistan and China to be part of the Chabahar port. Zarif, who was in Pakistan on a visit had also said that Iran had been offered to participate in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
“It is the prerogative of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to choose its partners for development activities of infrastructure facilities here,’’ said the MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar at a briefing.
On a three-day visit to Pakistan, Zarif on Tuesday suggested a link between the Chabahar and Gwadar for better development of the two countries. He asserted that the idea of Chabahar was not to "encircle Pakistan.”
The Chabahar port is strategically important for India as it gives Afghanistan an alternate route, as well as an access to Central Asia. It is also India’s answer to the Chinese development of Pakistani port, Gwadar. Any involvement by Pakistan or China in Chabahar would be detrimental to Indian interests.
However, the MEA chose to be deliberately diplomatic on the issue. “We continue to work with Iran on the full and effective operationalisation of the Chabahar Port,’’ said Kumar. India had shipped wheat from the port to Afghanistan in October. “Four such shipments have been delivered. Next shipment is schedule to leave later this month,’’ said Kumar. “During the visit of the President of Iran to India last month, an agreement was signed, regarding the interim operations of the port. India’s assistance for building the Chahbahar-Zahedan Railway…has also been discussed.”
Building closer ties with Iran has been one of the areas of focus for the Narendra Modi government. He was the first Indian prime minister to visit the country in 15 years. On that visit a trilateral transport and transit corridor agreement was signed between India, Afghanistan and Iran—effectively bypassing Pakistan. Modi had said that this pact could alter the region’s history. With Iran warming up to Pakistan—less than a month after President Rouhani’s visit—India needs to fully understand the signals that is being sent.