On Wednesday, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Iran’s new foreign minister Amir Abdollahian held talks with the top focus on the Afghanistan situation and the Chabahar port project. This was the first time when the call was exchanged between S. Jaishankar and Amir Adbollahian since he took charge as the finance minister. Jaishakar also congratulated Amir on his new position.
Both nations agreed to continue the consultations with the Iranian readout saying that Amir reiterated Tehran’s “principled policy to support the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan” that is made up of “all Afghan ethnic groups”. Amir also emphasized a regional approach to “defuse the crisis in the nation”.
Dr. S. Jaishankar took to his Twitter account to announce that India appreciates Iran’s facilitation of Indian repatriation flights from Afghanistan and agreed to strengthen their bilateral cooperation and discussed pressing regional issues. In September, India had evacuated more than 500 people after the fall of Afghanistan.
On the Chabahar port project, Amir called for “speeding up the project and expanding trade with India”. This project is Key to India’s connectivity to its west that provides links to Afghanistan and Central Asia. It is also key to the International north-south transport corridor that connects Mumbai to Moscow.
