China has struck a deal with America's enemy - Iran. It's a $400 billion economic and security strategic partnership deal.

As always, China is using its chequebook to have its way. It has bought Iran over for $400 billion dollars. It is a 25-year strategic accord with an 18-page agreement that weds Iran to China for a quarter of a century.

Once it is signed, Iran will open its doors for Chinese investment not just in one or two sectors but&nbsp;across the Iranian economy. The Chinese presence in Iran would expand in banking, telecommunications, ports and railways, also more than a dozen projects will go to Chinese companies.

Beijing hopes to get cheap oil in return. China will walk away with a steady supply of Iranian oil at a heavily discounted rate for 25 years and this is just one side of the story of the economic aspect.

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The deal also has a military dimension. There will be reportedly joint training and exercises, joint research and weapons development, even intelligence sharing as part of the agreement.&nbsp;

The deal will fundamentally change Iran’s relationship with China. It will put Tehran in Beijing’s corner and India could see its influence diminish overtime.&nbsp;

The biggest threat is to the Chabahar port. It was seen as India’s counter to the Gwadar port in Pakistan that is part of China’s Belt and Road initiative(BRI), if China invests heavily in Iran the Chabahar port could lose its relevance.&nbsp;

However, it is hypothetical as of today. The Iran-China agreement reportedly has not been submitted for Parliament’s approval yet and hasn’t been made public. China hasn’t shared the details of the deal yet as well. The ministry of foreign affairs in Beijing was asked about it today and it didn’t share any information.

It is not yet clear if the top brass of the Communist Party has signed off on it but&nbsp;the details of the deal that have leaked are reportedly part of the “final version”. Iran is not hiding the fact that it is negotiating the agreement with China. On July 5, Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif indicated that the deal will happen and it will be presented before Iran's Parliament for approval.

The potential agreement is a big threat to India. Historically, India and Iran have enjoyed a close relationship. India was one of the biggest buyers of Iranian oil but&nbsp;New Delhi stopped buying oil from Iran in 2019 after the United States slapped sanctions against Iran and refused to grant any waivers to India.&nbsp;

Now, Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy against Tehran has failed. China went under the nose of the Americans and managed to negotiate a deal with Tehran that could create more flashpoints in West Asia and even cost India its relationship with Iran.&nbsp;

China has struck a deal with America's enemy - Iran. It's a $400 billion economic and security strategic partnership deal. As always, China is using its chequebook to have its way.

China has struck a deal with America's enemy - Iran. It's a $400 billion economic and security strategic partnership deal. As always, China is using its chequebook to have its way. It has bought Iran over for $400 billion dollars. It is a 25-year strategic accord with an 18-page agreement that weds Iran to China for a quarter of a century. Once it is signed, Iran will open its doors for Chinese investment not just in one or two sectors but across the Iranian economy. The Chinese presence in Iran would expand in banking, telecommunications, ports and railways, also more than a dozen projects will go to Chinese companies. Beijing hopes to get cheap oil in return. China will walk away with a steady supply of Iranian oil at a heavily discounted rate for 25 years and this is just one side of the story of the economic aspect. The deal also has a military dimension. There will be reportedly joint training and exercises, joint research and weapons development, even intelligence sharing as part of the agreement. The deal will fundamentally change Iran’s relationship with China. It will put Tehran in Beijing’s corner and India could see its influence diminish overtime. The biggest threat is to the Chabahar port. It was seen as India’s counter to the Gwadar port in Pakistan that is part of China’s Belt and Road initiative(BRI), if China invests heavily in Iran the Chabahar port could lose its relevance. However, it is hypothetical as of today. The Iran-China agreement reportedly has not been submitted for Parliament’s approval yet and hasn’t been made public. China hasn’t shared the details of the deal yet as well. The ministry of foreign affairs in Beijing was asked about it today and it didn’t share any information. It is not yet clear if the top brass of the Communist Party has signed off on it but the details of the deal that have leaked are reportedly part of the “final version”. Iran is not hiding the fact that it is negotiating the agreement with China. On July 5, Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif indicated that the deal will happen and it will be presented before Iran's Parliament for approval. The potential agreement is a big threat to India. Historically, India and Iran have enjoyed a close relationship. India was one of the biggest buyers of Iranian oil but New Delhi stopped buying oil from Iran in 2019 after the United States slapped sanctions against Iran and refused to grant any waivers to India. Now, Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy against Tehran has failed. China went under the nose of the Americans and managed to negotiate a deal with Tehran that could create more flashpoints in West Asia and even cost India its relationship with Iran.

As China eyes multi-billion dollar Iran deal, India's Chabahar port may lose relevance

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. During the meeting, the foreign minister apprised him of the nineteenth session of the India-Iran Joint Commission which was held in Tehran a day before.

"Thank President of Iran, Dr Hassan Rouhani for so graciously receiving me today. Apprised him of the outcomes of the Joint Commission and progress in our bilateral ties," the foreign minister said on Twitter.

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Thank President Dr. <a href="https://twitter.com/HassanRouhani?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HassanRouhani</a> for so graciously receiving me today. Apprised him of the outcomes of the Joint Commission and progress in our bilateral ties. <a href="https://t.co/4vMAWWEIwo">pic.twitter.com/4vMAWWEIwo</a>
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1209062545509769218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The session was chaired by Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif, during which both leaders reviewed and assessed the progress in bilateral cooperation in various areas.

"During the Joint Commission Meeting, the two ministers reviewed and positively assessed progress in bilateral cooperation, including connectivity, trade and commerce, cultural and people-to-people contacts," an official statement issued by MEA said.&nbsp;

"They also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest."&nbsp;

Both the foreign ministers also expressed satisfaction at the progress achieved in Shahid Beheshti Port and Chabahar and said that "it has a potential to act as a gateway between the Indian subcontinent, Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia and Europe."

In 2018, Iran and India had signed an agreement worth $85 million to develop the Chabahar Port in south-eastern Iran.

The Chabahar Port, which provides an alternative route for trade between India and Afghanistan, is located in the Gulf of Oman.

In 2017, India sent its first shipment of wheat to Afghanistan through the strategic Iranian port.

During the two-day visit to Iran, Jaishankar also met Supreme National Security Council's secretary Admiral Ali Shamkhani and held a discussion on regional security and bilateral relations.&nbsp;

Along with that, he held a meeting with Mohammad Eslami, Roads and Urban Development Minister, and to assess progress on connectivity projects.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. During the meeting, the foreign minister apprised him of the nineteenth session of the India-Iran Joint Commission which was held in Tehran a day before.

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. During the meeting, the foreign minister apprised him of the nineteenth session of the India-Iran Joint Commission which was held in Tehran a day before. "Thank President of Iran, Dr Hassan Rouhani for so graciously receiving me today. Apprised him of the outcomes of the Joint Commission and progress in our bilateral ties," the foreign minister said on Twitter. Thank President Dr. @HassanRouhani for so graciously receiving me today. Apprised him of the outcomes of the Joint Commission and progress in our bilateral ties. pic.twitter.com/4vMAWWEIwo — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) December 23, 2019 × The session was chaired by Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif, during which both leaders reviewed and assessed the progress in bilateral cooperation in various areas. "During the Joint Commission Meeting, the two ministers reviewed and positively assessed progress in bilateral cooperation, including connectivity, trade and commerce, cultural and people-to-people contacts," an official statement issued by MEA said. "They also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest." Both the foreign ministers also expressed satisfaction at the progress achieved in Shahid Beheshti Port and Chabahar and said that "it has a potential to act as a gateway between the Indian subcontinent, Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia and Europe." In 2018, Iran and India had signed an agreement worth $85 million to develop the Chabahar Port in south-eastern Iran. The Chabahar Port, which provides an alternative route for trade between India and Afghanistan, is located in the Gulf of Oman. In 2017, India sent its first shipment of wheat to Afghanistan through the strategic Iranian port. During the two-day visit to Iran, Jaishankar also met Supreme National Security Council's secretary Admiral Ali Shamkhani and held a discussion on regional security and bilateral relations. Along with that, he held a meeting with Mohammad Eslami, Roads and Urban Development Minister, and to assess progress on connectivity projects. (With inputs from agencies)

Jaishankar meets Iranian President Hassan Rouhani; discusses progress in India-Iran bilateral ties

India and Iran on Sunday agreed to speed-up work on the Chabahar project while reaffirming "ancient, historic and unbreakable" ties between the two countries.&nbsp;

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif in Tehran for the 19th Joint Commission Meeting during which, other than Chabahar, regional and global issues also came up for discussion.

In a tweet, the EAM said, "A very good conversation on the regional and global picture. India and Iran will work together closely on their shared interests".

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Just concluded a very productive <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaIran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaIran</a> Joint Commission Meeting with my co-chair FM <a href="https://twitter.com/JZarif?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JZarif</a>. Reviewed the entire gamut of our cooperation. Agreed on accelerating our Chabahar project. <a href="https://t.co/vo0YjHONpF">pic.twitter.com/vo0YjHONpF</a>
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1208758727077224449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Jaishankar added, "reviewed the entire gamut of our cooperation. Agreed on accelerating our Chabahar project".The operation of the Shaheed Beheshti Port at Chabahar was taken over by India Ports Global Co. last December. Ever since over 5 lakh tons of cargo has been handled which includes exports from Afghanistan which began in February 2019.&nbsp;

In a meet last week, India, Afghanistan and Iran agreed to include Mormugoa and New Mangalore Port from India in the designated route under the Chabahar Agreement.&nbsp;

This is the 4th meeting between Jaishankar and Zarif. They have already met in Dushanbe, New York and Baku on the sidelines of multilateral events. They will meet next in January in Delhi during Iran FM's visit.&nbsp;

India and Iran on Sunday agreed to speed-up work on the Chabahar project while reaffirming "ancient, historic and unbreakable" ties between the two countries. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif in Tehran for the 19th Joint Commission Meeting during which, other than Chabahar, regional and global issues also came up for discussion.

India and Iran on Sunday agreed to speed-up work on the Chabahar project while reaffirming "ancient, historic and unbreakable" ties between the two countries. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif in Tehran for the 19th Joint Commission Meeting during which, other than Chabahar, regional and global issues also came up for discussion. In a tweet, the EAM said, "A very good conversation on the regional and global picture. India and Iran will work together closely on their shared interests". Just concluded a very productive #IndiaIran Joint Commission Meeting with my co-chair FM @JZarif. Reviewed the entire gamut of our cooperation. Agreed on accelerating our Chabahar project. pic.twitter.com/vo0YjHONpF — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) December 22, 2019 × Jaishankar added, "reviewed the entire gamut of our cooperation. Agreed on accelerating our Chabahar project".The operation of the Shaheed Beheshti Port at Chabahar was taken over by India Ports Global Co. last December. Ever since over 5 lakh tons of cargo has been handled which includes exports from Afghanistan which began in February 2019. In a meet last week, India, Afghanistan and Iran agreed to include Mormugoa and New Mangalore Port from India in the designated route under the Chabahar Agreement. This is the 4th meeting between Jaishankar and Zarif. They have already met in Dushanbe, New York and Baku on the sidelines of multilateral events. They will meet next in January in Delhi during Iran FM's visit.

India, Iran to speed-up Chabahar project; reaffirm unbreakable ties

India and Iran on Monday reviewed bilateral cooperation on key issues like ongoing connectivity and infrastructure development projects including development of Shahid Behesthi Port, and full operationalisation of the Trilateral Transit Agreement (Chabahar Agreement) between the two countries along with Afghanistan.

The first shipment from Afghanistan under the TIR Convention through Iran's Chabahar Port arrived at India's Nhava Sheva port in Mumbai and Mundra port in Gujarat in March this year.

During the 16th round of Foreign Office Consultations between India and Iran here, the two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale led the Indian delegation and Deputy Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi led the Iranian side.

"It was agreed to maintain the momentum of mutually beneficial multifaceted bilateral cooperation and exchanges between the two sides and to hold the next round of Joint Commission Meeting at the level of External Affairs Minister at an early date in Iran," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

The next round of Foreign Office consultations will be held in New Delhi on mutually convenient dates, the MEA said.

India and Iran on Monday reviewed bilateral cooperation on key issues like ongoing connectivity and infrastructure development projects including development of Shahid Behesthi Port, and full operationalisation of the Trilateral Transit Agreement (Chabahar Agreement) between the two countries along with Afghanistan.

India and Iran on Monday reviewed bilateral cooperation on key issues like ongoing connectivity and infrastructure development projects including development of Shahid Behesthi Port, and full operationalisation of the Trilateral Transit Agreement (Chabahar Agreement) between the two countries along with Afghanistan. The first shipment from Afghanistan under the TIR Convention through Iran's Chabahar Port arrived at India's Nhava Sheva port in Mumbai and Mundra port in Gujarat in March this year. During the 16th round of Foreign Office Consultations between India and Iran here, the two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale led the Indian delegation and Deputy Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi led the Iranian side. "It was agreed to maintain the momentum of mutually beneficial multifaceted bilateral cooperation and exchanges between the two sides and to hold the next round of Joint Commission Meeting at the level of External Affairs Minister at an early date in Iran," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. The next round of Foreign Office consultations will be held in New Delhi on mutually convenient dates, the MEA said.

Iran, India review operationalisation of development projects, including Chabahar

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/afghanistan-to-start-sending-goods-to-india-via-chabahar-port-in-iran-199270">Afghanistan</a> on Friday held an event here to highlight "Made in Afghanistan" products in a bid to attract Indian investment to their nation.

57 Afghan companies from the agricultural sector took part in the event, which was inaugurated by Muqadessa Yourish, the Deputy Minister of Afghanistan`s Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

&nbsp;Speaking to ANI, Yourish highlighted that Afghanistan sought to attract investment to their nation to boost its economy."There are two sides of the business, there is trade and there is investment, We`re doing great on the trade aspect of the business but we`re struggling to bring in investment to the country.&nbsp;

There is a lot of potentials, we have the energy sector, the mining sector but security has always been an issue when businesses have shown interest to come and invest in Afghanistan," she said.

"Going forward, we would like to focus not only on trade but on the investment component of the business as well. Our Indian partners have certainly shown interest on that front," the leader added.

&nbsp;The event acted as an apt platform for various companies in terms of increasing business ties and was able to attract crowds of customers and businessmen, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, New Delhi, stated.

&nbsp;Speaking on trade through the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/chabahar-port-stepped-up-us-military-posture-in-gulf-threatens-indias-hopes-185245">Chabahar Port</a>, Yourish said, "Every transit route, when you just inaugurate them, they do have their challenges. With Chabhar particularly, one of the biggest issues on our side has been that currently there is no Afghan company that owns a shipping line, So the cost of shipping has been very high for our traders".

She further highlighted that an Indian marine line company was interested in doing a joint investment with Afghan partners to find a solution to this problem being faced by Afghanistan. Naseem Sharifi, the Consul General of Afghanistan`s Consulate General in Mumbai was optimistic about the outcome of the event.

&nbsp;Speaking to ANI, he also added that Chabahar is making the export of a lot of items to India possible. "The overall goal is to increase the volume of export from Afghanistan to India and then again import Indian goods to Afghanistan," he said.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Afghanistan on Friday held an event here to highlight "Made in Afghanistan" products in a bid to attract Indian investment to their nation. 57 Afghan companies from the agricultural sector took part in the event, which was inaugurated by Muqadessa Yourish, the Deputy Minister of Afghanistan`s Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

Afghanistan on Friday held an event here to highlight "Made in Afghanistan" products in a bid to attract Indian investment to their nation. 57 Afghan companies from the agricultural sector took part in the event, which was inaugurated by Muqadessa Yourish, the Deputy Minister of Afghanistan`s Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Speaking to ANI, Yourish highlighted that Afghanistan sought to attract investment to their nation to boost its economy."There are two sides of the business, there is trade and there is investment, We`re doing great on the trade aspect of the business but we`re struggling to bring in investment to the country. There is a lot of potentials, we have the energy sector, the mining sector but security has always been an issue when businesses have shown interest to come and invest in Afghanistan," she said. "Going forward, we would like to focus not only on trade but on the investment component of the business as well. Our Indian partners have certainly shown interest on that front," the leader added. The event acted as an apt platform for various companies in terms of increasing business ties and was able to attract crowds of customers and businessmen, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, New Delhi, stated. Speaking on trade through the Chabahar Port, Yourish said, "Every transit route, when you just inaugurate them, they do have their challenges. With Chabhar particularly, one of the biggest issues on our side has been that currently there is no Afghan company that owns a shipping line, So the cost of shipping has been very high for our traders". She further highlighted that an Indian marine line company was interested in doing a joint investment with Afghan partners to find a solution to this problem being faced by Afghanistan. Naseem Sharifi, the Consul General of Afghanistan`s Consulate General in Mumbai was optimistic about the outcome of the event. Speaking to ANI, he also added that Chabahar is making the export of a lot of items to India possible. "The overall goal is to increase the volume of export from Afghanistan to India and then again import Indian goods to Afghanistan," he said.

Afghanistan holds agricultural export in Mumbai to boost trade ties with India

India is stuck in the proverbial ‘rock and a hard place’ syndrome in relation to the US embargo on energy trade with Iran. The choice is limited; continue pursuing the strategic relationship with the US as one of the more important swing states with mutuality of future interests or resist the US coercion and follow the principle of strategic autonomy by remaining engaged with Iran for the many strategic advantages that the option provides. Both options have their extreme negatives too. An analysis of this needs context and brief explanation.

India imports almost 80 per cent of its energy need. Of this, almost 11 per cent comes from the Islamic Republic of Iran, third in the quantified list of imports after Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action of July 15, 2015, Iran was given a reprieve from sanctions which allowed it to pursue trade, especially of oil; it worked to India’s interests even as the arrangement was essentially aimed at bringing Iran into the international trade and monetary system. This period also saw a surge in Indo-Iran relations with the agreement on development and usage of the Iranian port of Chabahar which promised the long-elusive surface access for India to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

However, on May 8, 2018, quoting alleged Iranian reneging on the nuclear deal, the Trump Administration pulled out of the deal struck by its predecessor. In November 2018, India got another reprieve with leeway granted to it and seven other nations on importing Iranian oil for a further six months. The others were China, Greece, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Turkey.&nbsp;

China and India remain the two largest importers of Iranian oil. Six months later, the US, as part of renewed vigour in its Middle East strategy, has revoked the leeway given to the eight nations. Iran’s oil, shipping, and banking industries could take a significant hit and its weakened currency could plunge further under these sanctions, which President Trump has said are intended to stop what he considers Iran’s unacceptable actions in the Middle East.&nbsp;

These include Iran’s support to Bashir Assad in Syria and to the Hezbollah, actions which have demonstratively enhanced Iran’s influence in the Levant. It was evident for some time that the six-month reprieve given would not be extended. The last step which confirmed that this was going to happen was the recent US declaration of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity.&nbsp;

Iran’s continued support to the Houthi rebels in Yemen irks Saudi Arabia even as Iran’s overall military power in the region is perceived as growing Shia power in the sectarian struggle against the Sunnis. The strong Iranian presence in the Levant, even by proxy, hurts US interests. The Iranian missile development programme and support to Hezbollah does likewise to Israeli interests. The current US strategy in the Middle East is focussed upon the emasculation of Iran aiming at internal instability with a segment of the people rebelling and this leading to a change in regime.

Internationally, the Iranian threat, as perceived by the US and its Middle East allies, is not considered sufficiently potent to exercise such measures to punish it. However, for the US it’s a legacy threat and quite psychological, going back to the black days of 1979-80 when as a superpower it was held hostage by a ragtag group of Iranian youth.

How does it all affect India? The potential withdrawal of Iran’s oil resources from the market has raised the price of oil to $75. Besides that, the continuation of import against the US embargo will invite secondary sanctions from the US which essentially means some form of exclusion from the international banking system that is controlled by the US due to the dollar trade. The US, however, said the sanctions, will not hurt global oil supply as other nations will step up production. For India, it is not so simple; the economic effect means higher import bills and purchase deals which will not carry the Iranian provisions of being freight-free and with a line of credit.

If India acquiesces completely to the US diktat, it stands to lose much of the strategic advantage it has built through its relationship with Iran. The strategically located port of Chabahar on which India had struck a tripartite deal with Iran and Afghanistan in 2015 gave it for the first time a capability to approach Afghanistan by other than an aerial route; overland access having been denied by Pakistan all these years, even after the emergence of the independent Central Asian Republics (CARs) in 1992.&nbsp;

However, with the US now sold out on greater Pakistani involvement in striking a deal with the Afghan Taliban even the argument of an enhanced Indian role in stabilizing Afghanistan may not work in obtaining special favours from the US. Diplomatically having Iran in a favourable disposition towards India would always cut advantage for us in the context of Pakistan and any contemplated role in Afghanistan. It’s also been reported that the US is demanding its pound of flesh for the support it is extending to India over the UN designation of Masood Azhar as an international terrorist.

In the dilemma that it finds itself the Indian government has limited choice. Resisting the US under the belief that the Trump Administration has only a 20 months balance period in its term and that things will eventually change will be a folly. The US presidential scenario for 2020 is completely uncertain and 20 months is a long period for a peeved President Trump to coerce India even further than it already has. The question is the extent to which the US needs India’s support; is it more than the support India needs from the US. The US has largely sidelined India on Afghanistan knowing that its presence at the high table will always irk Pakistan. However, in the Indo Pacific and more specifically the Indian Ocean India’s cooperation is crucial for the US, as a balancing force against China.&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-resisting-us-pressure-on-iran-2743509">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;

India is stuck in the proverbial ‘rock and a hard place’ syndrome in relation to the US embargo on energy trade with Iran. The choice is limited; continue pursuing the strategic relationship with the US as one of the more important swing states with mutuality of future interests or resist the US coercion and follow the principle of strategic autonomy by remaining engaged with Iran for the many strategic advantages that the option provides.

India is stuck in the proverbial ‘rock and a hard place’ syndrome in relation to the US embargo on energy trade with Iran. The choice is limited; continue pursuing the strategic relationship with the US as one of the more important swing states with mutuality of future interests or resist the US coercion and follow the principle of strategic autonomy by remaining engaged with Iran for the many strategic advantages that the option provides. Both options have their extreme negatives too. An analysis of this needs context and brief explanation. India imports almost 80 per cent of its energy need. Of this, almost 11 per cent comes from the Islamic Republic of Iran, third in the quantified list of imports after Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action of July 15, 2015, Iran was given a reprieve from sanctions which allowed it to pursue trade, especially of oil; it worked to India’s interests even as the arrangement was essentially aimed at bringing Iran into the international trade and monetary system. This period also saw a surge in Indo-Iran relations with the agreement on development and usage of the Iranian port of Chabahar which promised the long-elusive surface access for India to Afghanistan and Central Asia. However, on May 8, 2018, quoting alleged Iranian reneging on the nuclear deal, the Trump Administration pulled out of the deal struck by its predecessor. In November 2018, India got another reprieve with leeway granted to it and seven other nations on importing Iranian oil for a further six months. The others were China, Greece, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Turkey. China and India remain the two largest importers of Iranian oil. Six months later, the US, as part of renewed vigour in its Middle East strategy, has revoked the leeway given to the eight nations. Iran’s oil, shipping, and banking industries could take a significant hit and its weakened currency could plunge further under these sanctions, which President Trump has said are intended to stop what he considers Iran’s unacceptable actions in the Middle East. These include Iran’s support to Bashir Assad in Syria and to the Hezbollah, actions which have demonstratively enhanced Iran’s influence in the Levant. It was evident for some time that the six-month reprieve given would not be extended. The last step which confirmed that this was going to happen was the recent US declaration of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity. Iran’s continued support to the Houthi rebels in Yemen irks Saudi Arabia even as Iran’s overall military power in the region is perceived as growing Shia power in the sectarian struggle against the Sunnis. The strong Iranian presence in the Levant, even by proxy, hurts US interests. The Iranian missile development programme and support to Hezbollah does likewise to Israeli interests. The current US strategy in the Middle East is focussed upon the emasculation of Iran aiming at internal instability with a segment of the people rebelling and this leading to a change in regime. Internationally, the Iranian threat, as perceived by the US and its Middle East allies, is not considered sufficiently potent to exercise such measures to punish it. However, for the US it’s a legacy threat and quite psychological, going back to the black days of 1979-80 when as a superpower it was held hostage by a ragtag group of Iranian youth. How does it all affect India? The potential withdrawal of Iran’s oil resources from the market has raised the price of oil to $75. Besides that, the continuation of import against the US embargo will invite secondary sanctions from the US which essentially means some form of exclusion from the international banking system that is controlled by the US due to the dollar trade. The US, however, said the sanctions, will not hurt global oil supply as other nations will step up production. For India, it is not so simple; the economic effect means higher import bills and purchase deals which will not carry the Iranian provisions of being freight-free and with a line of credit. If India acquiesces completely to the US diktat, it stands to lose much of the strategic advantage it has built through its relationship with Iran. The strategically located port of Chabahar on which India had struck a tripartite deal with Iran and Afghanistan in 2015 gave it for the first time a capability to approach Afghanistan by other than an aerial route; overland access having been denied by Pakistan all these years, even after the emergence of the independent Central Asian Republics (CARs) in 1992. However, with the US now sold out on greater Pakistani involvement in striking a deal with the Afghan Taliban even the argument of an enhanced Indian role in stabilizing Afghanistan may not work in obtaining special favours from the US. Diplomatically having Iran in a favourable disposition towards India would always cut advantage for us in the context of Pakistan and any contemplated role in Afghanistan. It’s also been reported that the US is demanding its pound of flesh for the support it is extending to India over the UN designation of Masood Azhar as an international terrorist. In the dilemma that it finds itself the Indian government has limited choice. Resisting the US under the belief that the Trump Administration has only a 20 months balance period in its term and that things will eventually change will be a folly. The US presidential scenario for 2020 is completely uncertain and 20 months is a long period for a peeved President Trump to coerce India even further than it already has. The question is the extent to which the US needs India’s support; is it more than the support India needs from the US. The US has largely sidelined India on Afghanistan knowing that its presence at the high table will always irk Pakistan. However, in the Indo Pacific and more specifically the Indian Ocean India’s cooperation is crucial for the US, as a balancing force against China. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Resisting US pressure on Iran: India is stuck between rock and hard place

The first shipment of &nbsp;570 tonnes of goods from Afghanistan arrived in India through the Chabahar port in Iran on Wednesday.

The Afghan goods arrived at the port of Nhava Sheva, Mumbai and Mundra. The goods were flagged off by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani a few days ago along with Indian envoy to Afghanistan Vinay Kumar in the western Afghan city of Zaranj, the capital of Nimroz province bordering Iran.&nbsp;

This is also the first shipment from Afghanistan which came via TIR system to India. &nbsp;TIR is ‘Transports Internationaux Routiers’ which is a UN convention that allows goods to be sealed in compartments and requires no need for physical checking of the contents. This enables shipments to pass through countries without being opened at borders.

Reacting to the developments, Umberto de Pretto, the general secretary of the International Road Transportation Union said, "The opening of Chabahar Port for TIR is hugely significant – offering connectivity for landlocked countries, seamless border crossing facilitation and intermodal capabilities. "

"It enables a facilitative and non-intrusive environment for multi-modal transport of goods through several countries. The convention will help in boosting India’s exports and enable greater participation in the global value chains," said Pranab Kumar Das, Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes &amp; Customs (CBIC) of revenue dept in&nbsp;Ministry of Finance.&nbsp;

India joined the TIR Convention (the United Nations Customs Convention on International Transport of Goods under cover of TIR Carnets) on June 15, 2017.

In January, India formally established shipping lanes with the Chabahar port and now every 2 weeks Indian ships go from 3 Indian ports--Mumbai, Kandla and Mundra to the port in Iran.

India took over the operations of a part of Shahid Beheshti Port, Chabahar in Iran in December 2018.

New Delhi has been focusing on connecting itself with landlocked Afghanistan for which it started the India-Afghanistan air corridor in 2017 and developed the Chabahar port, which is also central to International North-South Transport&nbsp;Corridor (INSTC) which will connect Mumbai to Moscow.

The first shipment of 570 tonnes of goods from Afghanistan arrived in India through the Chabahar port in Iran on Wednesday. The Afghan goods arrived at the port of Nhava Sheva, Mumbai and Mundra.

The first shipment of 570 tonnes of goods from Afghanistan arrived in India through the Chabahar port in Iran on Wednesday. The Afghan goods arrived at the port of Nhava Sheva, Mumbai and Mundra. The goods were flagged off by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani a few days ago along with Indian envoy to Afghanistan Vinay Kumar in the western Afghan city of Zaranj, the capital of Nimroz province bordering Iran. This is also the first shipment from Afghanistan which came via TIR system to India. TIR is ‘Transports Internationaux Routiers’ which is a UN convention that allows goods to be sealed in compartments and requires no need for physical checking of the contents. This enables shipments to pass through countries without being opened at borders. Reacting to the developments, Umberto de Pretto, the general secretary of the International Road Transportation Union said, "The opening of Chabahar Port for TIR is hugely significant – offering connectivity for landlocked countries, seamless border crossing facilitation and intermodal capabilities. " "It enables a facilitative and non-intrusive environment for multi-modal transport of goods through several countries. The convention will help in boosting India’s exports and enable greater participation in the global value chains," said Pranab Kumar Das, Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) of revenue dept in Ministry of Finance. India joined the TIR Convention (the United Nations Customs Convention on International Transport of Goods under cover of TIR Carnets) on June 15, 2017. In January, India formally established shipping lanes with the Chabahar port and now every 2 weeks Indian ships go from 3 Indian ports--Mumbai, Kandla and Mundra to the port in Iran. India took over the operations of a part of Shahid Beheshti Port, Chabahar in Iran in December 2018. New Delhi has been focusing on connecting itself with landlocked Afghanistan for which it started the India-Afghanistan air corridor in 2017 and developed the Chabahar port, which is also central to International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) which will connect Mumbai to Moscow.

First shipment of Afghan goods reach India via Chabahar port 

In a big boost to regional connectivity, Afghanistan will from Sunday start sending its goods to India via the Chabahar port in Iran.&nbsp;

Afghan president Ashraf Ghani along with Indian ambassador to Afghanistan Vinay Kumar will be present at the event which will take place in the western Afghan city of Zaranj, the capital of Nimroz province bordering Iran.&nbsp;

While speaking exclusively to WION, Afghanistan President Ghani’s spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri said, ''The first trade convoy will involve 23 trucks carrying 570 tonnes of goods. The convoy will leave for Chabahar from the border city of Zaranj in a ceremony which will be attended by President Ashraf Ghani."

<img alt="Afghan shipment that will be sent to India via Chabahar port" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ffc51694-c825-417f-a3fc-35707507099d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%287%29_1.jpg" />

Highlighting the importance of the port, Chakhansuri told WION, "Chabahar Port is the result of healthy cooperation between India, Iran and Afghanistan. This will ensure enhanced connectivity and economic growth for the countries."

Chakhansuri added,&nbsp;"Other countries in the region should utilise the economic potentials of regional projects and enhance state to state cooperation instead of having illegal relations with non-state actors." He did not however name any of the "other countries".&nbsp;

Last month on January 27, India formally established shipping lanes with the port by sending ships. It has already been decided that every two weeks Indian ships will go from three Indian ports--Mumbai, Kandla and Mundra.

Commercial operations at the port began on December 30, 2018 with the arrival of MV Macheras, a Cyprus registered bulk carrier with 72458 MT of corn cargo.

India took over the operations of a part of Shahid Beheshti Port, Chabahar in Iran during the Chabahar Trilateral Agreement meeting that was held on December 24, 2018. In 2017, India sent 1.1 million tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan through the Chabahar port.

India has been focusing on connecting with Afghanistan which is a landlocked country. Other than Chabahar, India already has ''India-Afghan air corridor'' with Afghanistan that was launched in 2017. Pakistan has not been keen to allow an overland route for India Afghan trade, that makes Chabahar's emergence as a game changer.

On February 26, Iran will celebrate "Chabahar day" in the city of Chabahar itself during which a number of conferences will take place to attract investors.

In a big boost to regional connectivity, Afghanistan will from Sunday start sending its goods to India via the Chabahar port in Iran. Afghan president Ashraf Ghani along with Indian ambassador to Afghanistan Vinay Kumar will be present at the event which will take place in the western Afghan city of Zaranj, the capital of Nimroz province bordering Iran.

In a big boost to regional connectivity, Afghanistan will from Sunday start sending its goods to India via the Chabahar port in Iran. Afghan president Ashraf Ghani along with Indian ambassador to Afghanistan Vinay Kumar will be present at the event which will take place in the western Afghan city of Zaranj, the capital of Nimroz province bordering Iran. While speaking exclusively to WION, Afghanistan President Ghani’s spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri said, ''The first trade convoy will involve 23 trucks carrying 570 tonnes of goods. The convoy will leave for Chabahar from the border city of Zaranj in a ceremony which will be attended by President Ashraf Ghani." Highlighting the importance of the port, Chakhansuri told WION, "Chabahar Port is the result of healthy cooperation between India, Iran and Afghanistan. This will ensure enhanced connectivity and economic growth for the countries." Chakhansuri added, "Other countries in the region should utilise the economic potentials of regional projects and enhance state to state cooperation instead of having illegal relations with non-state actors." He did not however name any of the "other countries". Last month on January 27, India formally established shipping lanes with the port by sending ships. It has already been decided that every two weeks Indian ships will go from three Indian ports--Mumbai, Kandla and Mundra. Commercial operations at the port began on December 30, 2018 with the arrival of MV Macheras, a Cyprus registered bulk carrier with 72458 MT of corn cargo. India took over the operations of a part of Shahid Beheshti Port, Chabahar in Iran during the Chabahar Trilateral Agreement meeting that was held on December 24, 2018. In 2017, India sent 1.1 million tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan through the Chabahar port. India has been focusing on connecting with Afghanistan which is a landlocked country. Other than Chabahar, India already has ''India-Afghan air corridor'' with Afghanistan that was launched in 2017. Pakistan has not been keen to allow an overland route for India Afghan trade, that makes Chabahar's emergence as a game changer. On February 26, Iran will celebrate "Chabahar day" in the city of Chabahar itself during which a number of conferences will take place to attract investors.

Afghanistan begins sending goods to Iran's Chabahar port, final destination is India

Afghanistan on Sunday got officially connected with India via the Chabahar port in Iran, a port in which India's has invested heavily. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was in the city of Zaranj in the western province of Nimroz and along with Indian Ambassador Vinay Kumar led a ceremony in which Afghan goods were sent to Chabahar to be shipped to India. Also present during occasion were ambassadors of Iran, Turkey and diplomats of Indonesia and Kazakhstan.&nbsp;

Speaking at the flagging off ceremony, Afghan President said, "Afghanistan is no more a landlocked country", according to Afghan news agency Tolo news.

He announced that an elite unit from Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security(NDS) which is the Afghan intelligence agency will be deployed to protect the route that leads to Chabahar from Nimruz to ensure the safe flow of goods while meeting provincial council members in the province.&nbsp;

He also said that the people of Nimruz play a substantial role in guaranteeing export and import of goods from Afghanistan to Chabahar and beyond.

The export consignment, loaded in 23 trucks consisted of Afghan carpets, dry fruits, cotton, talc, stones and other items weighing 570 tonnes.&nbsp;

Speaking from Nimroz Indian envoy Vinay Kumar told WION that it was "a landmark event to provide access for the Afghan exporters to the large Indian market to build on the success of air corridor which has already helped increase Afghan exports to India by more than forty per cent."

Afghanistan has a huge trade surplus with India, the only such surplus for Afghans with any country. Bilateral trade between India and Afghanistan has seen a quantum jump of over 40% in 2018-19, crossing US dollar 1 billion. Afghan exports to India stood at US dollars 740 million last year.&nbsp;

The development comes days before Iran will organise Chabahar day. It will take place on 26th February and will be a business event to attract investment for the port. Secretary of the Shipping ministry of India will lead the Indian delegation with industry chamber CII taking a strong business delegation of 30 Indian companies.

The Chabahar project is a major connectivity program which will help India connect not only with landlocked Afghanistan but also central Asia. The project is also part of the international north-south corridor that will connect Mumbai to Moscow via Iran and Azerbaijan.&nbsp;

India has already established shipping links with the port with Indian ships going there every 2 weeks from 3 Indian ports--Mumbai, Kandla and Mundra. Commercial operations at the port began on 30th December 2018 with India formally taking over operations of a part of the Shahid Beheshti Port on 24th December 2018.

Afghanistan on Sunday got officially connected with India via the Chabahar port in Iran, a port in which India's has invested heavily. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was in the city of Zaranj in the western province of Nimroz and along with Indian Ambassador Vinay Kumar led a ceremony in which Afghan goods were sent to Chabahar to be shipped to India.

Afghanistan on Sunday got officially connected with India via the Chabahar port in Iran, a port in which India's has invested heavily. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was in the city of Zaranj in the western province of Nimroz and along with Indian Ambassador Vinay Kumar led a ceremony in which Afghan goods were sent to Chabahar to be shipped to India. Also present during occasion were ambassadors of Iran, Turkey and diplomats of Indonesia and Kazakhstan. Speaking at the flagging off ceremony, Afghan President said, "Afghanistan is no more a landlocked country", according to Afghan news agency Tolo news. He announced that an elite unit from Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security(NDS) which is the Afghan intelligence agency will be deployed to protect the route that leads to Chabahar from Nimruz to ensure the safe flow of goods while meeting provincial council members in the province. He also said that the people of Nimruz play a substantial role in guaranteeing export and import of goods from Afghanistan to Chabahar and beyond. The export consignment, loaded in 23 trucks consisted of Afghan carpets, dry fruits, cotton, talc, stones and other items weighing 570 tonnes. Speaking from Nimroz Indian envoy Vinay Kumar told WION that it was "a landmark event to provide access for the Afghan exporters to the large Indian market to build on the success of air corridor which has already helped increase Afghan exports to India by more than forty per cent." Afghanistan has a huge trade surplus with India, the only such surplus for Afghans with any country. Bilateral trade between India and Afghanistan has seen a quantum jump of over 40% in 2018-19, crossing US dollar 1 billion. Afghan exports to India stood at US dollars 740 million last year. The development comes days before Iran will organise Chabahar day. It will take place on 26th February and will be a business event to attract investment for the port. Secretary of the Shipping ministry of India will lead the Indian delegation with industry chamber CII taking a strong business delegation of 30 Indian companies. The Chabahar project is a major connectivity program which will help India connect not only with landlocked Afghanistan but also central Asia. The project is also part of the international north-south corridor that will connect Mumbai to Moscow via Iran and Azerbaijan. India has already established shipping links with the port with Indian ships going there every 2 weeks from 3 Indian ports--Mumbai, Kandla and Mundra. Commercial operations at the port began on 30th December 2018 with India formally taking over operations of a part of the Shahid Beheshti Port on 24th December 2018.

Chabahar port opens for Afghan goods as Afghanistan President says will deploy security to safeguard the route

In a big boost to regional connectivity, Afghanistan will formally start sending its goods to India from the Chabahar port in Iran from Sunday.&nbsp;

Afghan president Ashraf Ghani along with Indian ambassador to Afghanistan Vinay Kumar will be present at the event that will take place in the western Afghan city of Zaranj, the capital of Nimroz province bordering Iran.&nbsp;

"The first trade convoy will involve 23 trucks carrying 570 tonnes of goods. The convoy will leave for India from the border city of Zaranj in a ceremony which will be attended by President Ashraf Ghani," Afghanistan president's spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri told WION in an exclusive conversation.&nbsp;

Highlighting the importance of the port he said from Kabul ''Chabahar Port is the result of healthy cooperation between India, Iran and Afghanistan. This will ensure enhanced connectivity and economic growth for the countries."

Without naming any country in the region he suggested, "Other countries in the region should utilise the economic potentials of regional projects and enhance state-to-state cooperation instead of having illegal relations with non-state actors."

on 27 January, India formally established shipping lanes with the port by sending ships. It has already been decided that every two weeks Indian ships will go from three Indian ports--Mumbai, Kandla and Mundra.

Commercial operations at the port began on December 30, 2018 with the arrival of MV Macheras, a Cyprus registered bulk carrier with 72458 MT of corn cargo.

India took over the operations of a part of Shahid Beheshti Port, Chabahar in Iran during the Chabahar Trilateral Agreement meeting that was held in December 2018. In 2017, India sent 1.1 million tonnes of Wheat to Afghanistan through the Chabahar port.

India has been focusing on connecting itself with Afghanistan which is a landlocked country. Other than Chabahar, India already has India Afghan air corridor with Afghanistan that was launched in 2017.&nbsp;

Pakistan has not been keen to allow an overland route for India Afghan trade, that makes Chabahar's emergence as a game changer.

On 26 February Iran will celebrate "Chabahar day" in the city of Chabahar itself during which a number of conferences will take place to attract investors.

In a big boost to regional connectivity, Afghanistan will formally start sending its goods to India from the Chabahar port in Iran from Sunday. Afghan president Ashraf Ghani along with Indian ambassador to Afghanistan Vinay Kumar will be present at the event that will take place in the western Afghan city of Zaranj, the capital of Nimroz province bordering Iran.

In a big boost to regional connectivity, Afghanistan will formally start sending its goods to India from the Chabahar port in Iran from Sunday. Afghan president Ashraf Ghani along with Indian ambassador to Afghanistan Vinay Kumar will be present at the event that will take place in the western Afghan city of Zaranj, the capital of Nimroz province bordering Iran. "The first trade convoy will involve 23 trucks carrying 570 tonnes of goods. The convoy will leave for India from the border city of Zaranj in a ceremony which will be attended by President Ashraf Ghani," Afghanistan president's spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri told WION in an exclusive conversation. Highlighting the importance of the port he said from Kabul ''Chabahar Port is the result of healthy cooperation between India, Iran and Afghanistan. This will ensure enhanced connectivity and economic growth for the countries." Without naming any country in the region he suggested, "Other countries in the region should utilise the economic potentials of regional projects and enhance state-to-state cooperation instead of having illegal relations with non-state actors." on 27 January, India formally established shipping lanes with the port by sending ships. It has already been decided that every two weeks Indian ships will go from three Indian ports--Mumbai, Kandla and Mundra. Commercial operations at the port began on December 30, 2018 with the arrival of MV Macheras, a Cyprus registered bulk carrier with 72458 MT of corn cargo. India took over the operations of a part of Shahid Beheshti Port, Chabahar in Iran during the Chabahar Trilateral Agreement meeting that was held in December 2018. In 2017, India sent 1.1 million tonnes of Wheat to Afghanistan through the Chabahar port. India has been focusing on connecting itself with Afghanistan which is a landlocked country. Other than Chabahar, India already has India Afghan air corridor with Afghanistan that was launched in 2017. Pakistan has not been keen to allow an overland route for India Afghan trade, that makes Chabahar's emergence as a game changer. On 26 February Iran will celebrate "Chabahar day" in the city of Chabahar itself during which a number of conferences will take place to attract investors.

Afghanistan all set to get connected to India via Chabahar from Sunday

This week’s suicide attack on Revolutionary Guards in Iran’s south-eastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan, the second in two months, could not have come at a more awkward moment for Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The assault on a bus carrying the guards back from patrols on the province’s border with the troubled Pakistani region of Baluchistan killed 27 people and wounded 13 others. It occurred days before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was scheduled to visit Pakistan as part of a tour of Asian countries.

While Baluchistan is set to figure prominently in Prince Mohammed’s talks with Khan, the attack also coincided with a US-sponsored conference in Warsaw, widely seen as an effort by the Trump administration to further isolate Iran economically and diplomatically.

Inside the conference, dubbed The Ministerial to Promote a Future of Peace and Security in the Middle East, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo insisted that US policy was designed to force Iran to alter its regional and defence policies and not geared towards regime change in Tehran.

Yet, US President Donald J Trump appeared to be sending mixed messages to the Iranians as well as sceptical European governments with his personal lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, addressing a rally outside the conference organised by the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, a controversial Iranian exile group believed to enjoy Saudi backing.

Giuliani told the protesters who waved Iranian flags and giant yellow balloons emblazoned with the words, “Regime Change” that “We want to see a regime change in Iran.”

Trump appeared to fuel suspicion that Giuliani represented his true sentiment by tweeting on the eve of the Warsaw conference in a reference to the 40th anniversary of the Islamic revolution: “40 years of corruption. 40 years of repression. 40 years of terror. The regime in Iran has produced only #40YearsofFailure. The long-suffering Iranian people deserve a much brighter future.”

In a statement, the Revolutionary Guards blamed the attack on "mercenaries of intelligence agencies of world arrogance and domination," a reference to Saudi Arabia, the United States and Israel.

Jaish-al-Adl (the Army of Justice), a Pakistan-based splinter group that traces its roots to Saudi-backed anti-Shiite groups with a history of attacks on Iranian and Shiite targets, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The group says it is not seeking Baluch secession from Iran. Instead, it wants to "Force the regime of the guardianship of jurisconsult (Iran) to respect the demands of the Muslim Baloch and Sunni society alongside the other compatriots of our country."

Militants targeted a Revolutionary Guards headquarters in December in a rare suicide bombing in Chabahar, home to Iran’s Indian-backed port on the Arabian Sea, a mere 70 kilometres from the Chinese supported the port of Gwadar, a crown jewel in the Pakistani leg of the People’s Republic’s Belt and Road initiative.

The attacks coupled with indications that Saudi Arabia and the United States may be contemplating covert action against Iran using Pakistani Balochistan as a launching pad, and heightened Saudi economic and commercial interest in the province, frame Prince Mohammed’s upcoming talks in Islamabad.

During his visit, Prince Mohammed is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on a framework for $10 billion in Saudi investments. &nbsp;

The memorandum includes a plan by Saudi national oil company Aramco to build a refinery in Gwadar as well as Saudi investment in Baluchistan’s Reko Diq copper and gold mine.

The investments would further enhance Saudi influence in Pakistan as well as the kingdom’s foothold in Balochistan.

They would come on the back of significant Saudi aid to help Pakistan evade a financial crisis that included a $3 billion deposit in Pakistan’s central bank to support the country’s balance of payments and another $3 billion in deferred payments for oil imports.

Taken together, the refinery, a strategic oil reserve in Gwadar and the mine would also help Saudi Arabia in potential efforts to prevent Chabahar from emerging as a powerful Arabian Sea hub.

Saudi funds have been flowing for some time into the coffers of ultra-conservative anti-Shiite, anti-Iranian Sunni Muslim Madrassahs or religious seminars in Balochistan. It remains unclear whether they originate with the Saudi government or Saudi nationals of Baloch descent and members of the two million-strong Pakistani Diaspora in the kingdom.&nbsp;

The funds help put in place potential building blocks for possible covert action should the kingdom and/or the United States decide to act on proposals to support irredentist activity.

The flow started at about the time that the Riyadh-based International Institute for Iranian Studies, formerly known as the Arabian Gulf Centre for Iranian Studies, an allegedly Saudi government-backed think tank, published &nbsp;a study that argued that Chabahar posed “a direct threat to the Arab Gulf states” that called for “immediate countermeasures.”

If executed, covert action could jeopardise Indian hopes to use Chabahar to bypass Pakistan, significantly enhance its trade with Afghanistan and Central Asian nations and create an antidote to Gwadar.

Pakistani analysts expect an estimated $5 billion in Afghan trade to flow through Chabahar after India in December started handling the port’s operations.

Iranian concerns that the attacks represent the US and/or Saudi covert effort are grounded not only in more recent US and Saudi policies, including Trump’s withdrawal last year from the 2015 international agreement to curb Iran's nuclear program despite confirmation of its adherence to the accord and re-imposition of harsh economic sanctions against the Islamic republic.

They are also rooted in US and Saudi backing of Iraq in the 1980s Gulf war, US overtures in the last year to Iranian Kurdish insurgents, the long-standing broad spectrum of support of former and serving US officials for the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq and in recent years of Prince Turki al-Faisal, a former head of Saudi intelligence and ex-ambassador to the United States and Britain.

Said Ali Vaez, the International Crisis Group’s Iran analyst: “The concern was never that the Trump admin would avert its eyes from Iran, but rather that is in inflicted by an unhealthy obsession with it. In hyping the threat emanating from Iran, Trump is more likely than not to mishandle it and thus further destabilise the Middle East.”

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

This week’s suicide attack on Revolutionary Guards in Iran’s south-eastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan, the second in two months, could not have come at a more awkward moment for Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.

This week’s suicide attack on Revolutionary Guards in Iran’s south-eastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan, the second in two months, could not have come at a more awkward moment for Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. The assault on a bus carrying the guards back from patrols on the province’s border with the troubled Pakistani region of Baluchistan killed 27 people and wounded 13 others. It occurred days before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was scheduled to visit Pakistan as part of a tour of Asian countries. While Baluchistan is set to figure prominently in Prince Mohammed’s talks with Khan, the attack also coincided with a US-sponsored conference in Warsaw, widely seen as an effort by the Trump administration to further isolate Iran economically and diplomatically. Inside the conference, dubbed The Ministerial to Promote a Future of Peace and Security in the Middle East, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo insisted that US policy was designed to force Iran to alter its regional and defence policies and not geared towards regime change in Tehran. Yet, US President Donald J Trump appeared to be sending mixed messages to the Iranians as well as sceptical European governments with his personal lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, addressing a rally outside the conference organised by the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, a controversial Iranian exile group believed to enjoy Saudi backing. Giuliani told the protesters who waved Iranian flags and giant yellow balloons emblazoned with the words, “Regime Change” that “We want to see a regime change in Iran.” Trump appeared to fuel suspicion that Giuliani represented his true sentiment by tweeting on the eve of the Warsaw conference in a reference to the 40th anniversary of the Islamic revolution: “40 years of corruption. 40 years of repression. 40 years of terror. The regime in Iran has produced only #40YearsofFailure. The long-suffering Iranian people deserve a much brighter future.” In a statement, the Revolutionary Guards blamed the attack on "mercenaries of intelligence agencies of world arrogance and domination," a reference to Saudi Arabia, the United States and Israel. Jaish-al-Adl (the Army of Justice), a Pakistan-based splinter group that traces its roots to Saudi-backed anti-Shiite groups with a history of attacks on Iranian and Shiite targets, has claimed responsibility for the attack. The group says it is not seeking Baluch secession from Iran. Instead, it wants to "Force the regime of the guardianship of jurisconsult (Iran) to respect the demands of the Muslim Baloch and Sunni society alongside the other compatriots of our country." Militants targeted a Revolutionary Guards headquarters in December in a rare suicide bombing in Chabahar, home to Iran’s Indian-backed port on the Arabian Sea, a mere 70 kilometres from the Chinese supported the port of Gwadar, a crown jewel in the Pakistani leg of the People’s Republic’s Belt and Road initiative. The attacks coupled with indications that Saudi Arabia and the United States may be contemplating covert action against Iran using Pakistani Balochistan as a launching pad, and heightened Saudi economic and commercial interest in the province, frame Prince Mohammed’s upcoming talks in Islamabad. During his visit, Prince Mohammed is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on a framework for $10 billion in Saudi investments. The memorandum includes a plan by Saudi national oil company Aramco to build a refinery in Gwadar as well as Saudi investment in Baluchistan’s Reko Diq copper and gold mine. The investments would further enhance Saudi influence in Pakistan as well as the kingdom’s foothold in Balochistan. They would come on the back of significant Saudi aid to help Pakistan evade a financial crisis that included a $3 billion deposit in Pakistan’s central bank to support the country’s balance of payments and another $3 billion in deferred payments for oil imports. Taken together, the refinery, a strategic oil reserve in Gwadar and the mine would also help Saudi Arabia in potential efforts to prevent Chabahar from emerging as a powerful Arabian Sea hub. Saudi funds have been flowing for some time into the coffers of ultra-conservative anti-Shiite, anti-Iranian Sunni Muslim Madrassahs or religious seminars in Balochistan. It remains unclear whether they originate with the Saudi government or Saudi nationals of Baloch descent and members of the two million-strong Pakistani Diaspora in the kingdom. The funds help put in place potential building blocks for possible covert action should the kingdom and/or the United States decide to act on proposals to support irredentist activity. The flow started at about the time that the Riyadh-based International Institute for Iranian Studies, formerly known as the Arabian Gulf Centre for Iranian Studies, an allegedly Saudi government-backed think tank, published a study that argued that Chabahar posed “a direct threat to the Arab Gulf states” that called for “immediate countermeasures.” If executed, covert action could jeopardise Indian hopes to use Chabahar to bypass Pakistan, significantly enhance its trade with Afghanistan and Central Asian nations and create an antidote to Gwadar. Pakistani analysts expect an estimated $5 billion in Afghan trade to flow through Chabahar after India in December started handling the port’s operations. Iranian concerns that the attacks represent the US and/or Saudi covert effort are grounded not only in more recent US and Saudi policies, including Trump’s withdrawal last year from the 2015 international agreement to curb Iran's nuclear program despite confirmation of its adherence to the accord and re-imposition of harsh economic sanctions against the Islamic republic. They are also rooted in US and Saudi backing of Iraq in the 1980s Gulf war, US overtures in the last year to Iranian Kurdish insurgents, the long-standing broad spectrum of support of former and serving US officials for the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq and in recent years of Prince Turki al-Faisal, a former head of Saudi intelligence and ex-ambassador to the United States and Britain. Said Ali Vaez, the International Crisis Group’s Iran analyst: “The concern was never that the Trump admin would avert its eyes from Iran, but rather that is in inflicted by an unhealthy obsession with it. In hyping the threat emanating from Iran, Trump is more likely than not to mishandle it and thus further destabilise the Middle East.” (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

The significance of Saudi Crown Prince's visit to Pakistan

Afghanistan is all set to use Chabahar to connect to India. According to Iran's Ministry of Roads and Urban development, Afghanistan is preparing to ship the first cargo of 5 containers through Chabahar to India and this will happen within a months time.&nbsp;

The cargo will contain mung beans and each container will weigh about 22 tons. The delivery of cargo will be carried out under theInternational Road Transports (TIR) system.

According to Afghanistan's ministry of foreign affairs and transport quoted by Iranian ministry, "this cargo will be shipped as a pilot form Afghanistan to India."

TIR system streamlines procedures at borders and reduces the administrative burden for customs authorities.

<img alt="Chabahar port" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="20526c6d-c8a5-4002-a3f1-23ec27e0df78" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Port%281%29.jpg" />

Meanwhile, India has formally established shipping lines to Chabahar. The first such ship arrived on Sunday. This was announced in a release from the Iranian Prime Minister's office. &nbsp;

It has been decided that regular ships from 3 Indian ports --Mumbai, Kandla and Mundra will now regularly go to the Iranian port every 2 weeks.

The director general of Sistan-Baluchestan Ports and Maritime Organisation Behrouz Aqayee said in the release, "With the arrival of the first 3700TEU container at Shahid Beheshti Chabahar port, for the first time, the shipping line between the ports of Mumbai-Mundra-Kandla have opened".

The development comes a month after India took over operations at the port. The Commercial operations at the port began on 30th December with the arrival of a Cyprus registered bulk carrier with 72458 MT of corn cargo. The vessel MV Macheras berthed at the terminal on 30th December 2018. This is the first time India will be operating a port outside its territories.

The port is crucial for India's connectivity to Afghanistan and to Central Asia and North-South Transport Corridor that connects Mumbai to Moscow.

The port is very important for landlocked Afghanistan which is keen to get connect itself with international markets. It already has an air corridor with India, opened in 2017.

Uzbek ambassador to India, Farhod Arziev speaking to WION has said "Any projects that can help Uzbekistan to reach the international market we see positively. The projects like Chabahar creates an opportunity for central Asia."

Afghanistan is all set to use Chabahar to connect to India. According to Iran's Ministry of Roads and Urban development, Afghanistan is preparing to ship the first cargo of 5 containers through Chabahar to India and this will happen within a months time.

Afghanistan is all set to use Chabahar to connect to India. According to Iran's Ministry of Roads and Urban development, Afghanistan is preparing to ship the first cargo of 5 containers through Chabahar to India and this will happen within a months time. The cargo will contain mung beans and each container will weigh about 22 tons. The delivery of cargo will be carried out under theInternational Road Transports (TIR) system. According to Afghanistan's ministry of foreign affairs and transport quoted by Iranian ministry, "this cargo will be shipped as a pilot form Afghanistan to India." TIR system streamlines procedures at borders and reduces the administrative burden for customs authorities. Meanwhile, India has formally established shipping lines to Chabahar. The first such ship arrived on Sunday. This was announced in a release from the Iranian Prime Minister's office. It has been decided that regular ships from 3 Indian ports --Mumbai, Kandla and Mundra will now regularly go to the Iranian port every 2 weeks. The director general of Sistan-Baluchestan Ports and Maritime Organisation Behrouz Aqayee said in the release, "With the arrival of the first 3700TEU container at Shahid Beheshti Chabahar port, for the first time, the shipping line between the ports of Mumbai-Mundra-Kandla have opened". The development comes a month after India took over operations at the port. The Commercial operations at the port began on 30th December with the arrival of a Cyprus registered bulk carrier with 72458 MT of corn cargo. The vessel MV Macheras berthed at the terminal on 30th December 2018. This is the first time India will be operating a port outside its territories. The port is crucial for India's connectivity to Afghanistan and to Central Asia and North-South Transport Corridor that connects Mumbai to Moscow. The port is very important for landlocked Afghanistan which is keen to get connect itself with international markets. It already has an air corridor with India, opened in 2017. Uzbek ambassador to India, Farhod Arziev speaking to WION has said "Any projects that can help Uzbekistan to reach the international market we see positively. The projects like Chabahar creates an opportunity for central Asia."

Chabahar port: Indian ships every two weeks; Afghan goods from next month to India from the port

Uzbek Ambassador to India speaks on Chabahar Port

Uzbekistan seems to be becoming India's launchpad to Central Asia. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been to India twice in the last four months. First on a state visit in September and then visiting India last week for the Vibrant Gujarat summit in Gandhinagar. Uzbek Ambassador Farhod Arziev spoke to WION on a range of issues, from India-Uzbekistan connectivity, to trade, and the "dynamic" relationship between the two countries.&nbsp;

WION: How do you see connectivity between the two countries?&nbsp; 
Farhod Arziev: I would like to inform you just before the visit of President (Shavkat Mirziyoyev), we have hosted important event — India-Central Asia Dialogues — at the level of foreign ministers in which foreign minister of Afghanistan also participated. For the first time, such format was created and the meeting took place in Samarkand. And all ministers of FMs of central Asia, India and Afghanistan participated. One of the key items of discussion was to expand areas of connectivity between India and central Asia and use transit potential of Afghanistan. So now, discussion among the parties, among Central Asia and India is going on to increase the connectivity opportunities which will create new corridors between Uzbekistan, central Asia and India. We see great transit potential of Afghanistan in this regard. And we believe this will have practical implication and it will be beneficial for all parties.&nbsp;

WION: How do you see the role of Chabahar port?&nbsp; 
FA: Uzbekistan is not only landlocked but double landlocked. Any projects that can help Uzbekistan to reach the international market, we see positively. The projects like Chabahar creates an opportunity for central Asia. We believe it will play a very important, practical role in expanding trade and economic relations.&nbsp;

WION: How do you see ties between the two countries?&nbsp; 
FA: For the past four months, we have had the highest level visits. The second time our president visited on 17th and 18th January and attended the Vibrant Gujarat investment summit. I would like to stress the intensity of visits at the highest level shows how close and how dynamic the relationship between the two countries is. Our relations are getting closer at various levels — political, economic, trade and cultural. In all areas, it is of a comprehensive character. We had a country pavilion where we showed made-in-Uzbekistan products. Our president gave a speech (at Vibrant Gujarat) to highlight key areas of cooperation. Our president highlighted the importance of connectivity between India and Uzbekistan as a means to expand investment. Idea is to establish a railway line project that can connect Uzbekistan and India via &nbsp;Afghanistan through the Chabahar Port. We believe with expanding connectivity, options on trade and volume of trade will increase. Regional cooperation was also highlighted. &nbsp;&nbsp;

WION: How do you see Investment ties? &nbsp;&nbsp; 
FA:&nbsp;Investment and economic cooperation is an important part of Uzbek-India dialogue. Investment was an important part of the agenda of our president when he came on the state visit last year in October. This time, in his talks with PM Modi, importance of investment cooperation was highlighted separately. And I am happy to inform you as part of the visit, a very important and strategic agreement on the supply of Uzbek uranium to India and exchange of documents took place in front of the two leaders at the Vibrant Gujarat summit. Also, to encourage investment projects, we have signed an agreement between EXIM Bank of India and State Investment Committee of Uzbekistan. They have inked framework agreement on line of credit. We are talking about a soft loan. We are getting a line of credit at the volume of 200 million US dollars to implement social and infrastructure projects. We are working with the private sector of India. &nbsp;

Uzbekistan seems to be becoming India's launchpad to Central Asia. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been to India twice in the last four months. First on a state visit in September and then visiting India last week for the Vibrant Gujarat summit in Gandhinagar.

Uzbekistan seems to be becoming India's launchpad to Central Asia. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been to India twice in the last four months. First on a state visit in September and then visiting India last week for the Vibrant Gujarat summit in Gandhinagar. Uzbek Ambassador Farhod Arziev spoke to WION on a range of issues, from India-Uzbekistan connectivity, to trade, and the "dynamic" relationship between the two countries. WION: How do you see connectivity between the two countries? Farhod Arziev: I would like to inform you just before the visit of President (Shavkat Mirziyoyev), we have hosted important event — India-Central Asia Dialogues — at the level of foreign ministers in which foreign minister of Afghanistan also participated. For the first time, such format was created and the meeting took place in Samarkand. And all ministers of FMs of central Asia, India and Afghanistan participated. One of the key items of discussion was to expand areas of connectivity between India and central Asia and use transit potential of Afghanistan. So now, discussion among the parties, among Central Asia and India is going on to increase the connectivity opportunities which will create new corridors between Uzbekistan, central Asia and India. We see great transit potential of Afghanistan in this regard. And we believe this will have practical implication and it will be beneficial for all parties. WION: How do you see the role of Chabahar port? FA: Uzbekistan is not only landlocked but double landlocked. Any projects that can help Uzbekistan to reach the international market, we see positively. The projects like Chabahar creates an opportunity for central Asia. We believe it will play a very important, practical role in expanding trade and economic relations. WION: How do you see ties between the two countries? FA: For the past four months, we have had the highest level visits. The second time our president visited on 17th and 18th January and attended the Vibrant Gujarat investment summit. I would like to stress the intensity of visits at the highest level shows how close and how dynamic the relationship between the two countries is. Our relations are getting closer at various levels — political, economic, trade and cultural. In all areas, it is of a comprehensive character. We had a country pavilion where we showed made-in-Uzbekistan products. Our president gave a speech (at Vibrant Gujarat) to highlight key areas of cooperation. Our president highlighted the importance of connectivity between India and Uzbekistan as a means to expand investment. Idea is to establish a railway line project that can connect Uzbekistan and India via Afghanistan through the Chabahar Port. We believe with expanding connectivity, options on trade and volume of trade will increase. Regional cooperation was also highlighted. WION: How do you see Investment ties? FA: Investment and economic cooperation is an important part of Uzbek-India dialogue. Investment was an important part of the agenda of our president when he came on the state visit last year in October. This time, in his talks with PM Modi, importance of investment cooperation was highlighted separately. And I am happy to inform you as part of the visit, a very important and strategic agreement on the supply of Uzbek uranium to India and exchange of documents took place in front of the two leaders at the Vibrant Gujarat summit. Also, to encourage investment projects, we have signed an agreement between EXIM Bank of India and State Investment Committee of Uzbekistan. They have inked framework agreement on line of credit. We are talking about a soft loan. We are getting a line of credit at the volume of 200 million US dollars to implement social and infrastructure projects. We are working with the private sector of India.

Uzbek ambassador proposes India-Uzbekistan rail line through Afghanistan, Chabahar port

Visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif met with Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday in Delhi. This was their first meeting since India took over operations of a part of Chabahar port in Iran.&nbsp;

Speaking to the media after their meeting, Gadkari said: "We had good discussions with Minister Zarif on Chabahar port. Received first ship from Brazil at Chabahar. We have started activity with help of Iranian operator. Regarding machinery order financial arrangement is ready."&nbsp;

Gadkari also annouced that India has given permission to the Iranian Bank to open in Mumbai within 3 month and both sides have "resolved lot of pending issues.&nbsp;

"Minister (Zarif) give lot proposals for future. We need steel. We ready to supply urea. We had detailed discussion. We resolved lot of pending issues. Function of Chabahar is important for us. Confident we are in position to start function of Chabahar."&nbsp;

Zarif said he hoped New Delhi and Tehran would continue to cooperate despite the "illegal US sanctions".&nbsp;

He added that "Iran and India have complimentary economies. We need Indian goods and services and India needs goods and services. In banking sector, very happy that both UCO Bank and Pasargad Bank are getting started with business. We have full range of options. We hope despite the illegal US sanctions, India and Iran can cooperate for the benefit of the people and region." &nbsp;

Asked if Iran would be keen to supply cheap gas to India to develop industry in Chabahar and nearby areas, Zarif said, "We open to discussion with India so that they can start investments in Chabahar area including petrochemicals. We always open for discussions with India in that area and we welcome proposal from India."&nbsp;

Chabahar is key to India's connectivity to its near-west regions, especially Afghanistan and central Asia. Chabahar is also crucial to the North-South International Corridor which connects Mumbai to Moscow.&nbsp;

India has already conveyed its readiness to support the development of the Chabahar-Zahedan Rail line to boost connectivity. The physical taking over of the terminal area, cargo handling equipment and office building at Shahid Beheshti Port was completed by December 29 last year and commercial operations have since begun.&nbsp;

A Cyprus-registered bulk carrier, the MV Macheras, arrived at Chabahar with a 72,458 MT cargo of corn on December 30.&nbsp;

The US has already given India a waiver from sanctions on the port. The US State Department told WION last year that "after extensive consideration, the Secretary has provided for an exception from the imposition of certain sanctions under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act of 2012 (IFCA) with respect to the development of Chabahar port and the construction of an associated railway and for the shipment of non-sanctionable goods through the port for Afghanistan’s use, as well as Afghanistan’s continued imports of Iranian petroleum products.‎"

Visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif met with Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday in Delhi. This was their first meeting since India took over operations of a part of Chabahar port in Iran.

Visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif met with Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday in Delhi. This was their first meeting since India took over operations of a part of Chabahar port in Iran. Speaking to the media after their meeting, Gadkari said: "We had good discussions with Minister Zarif on Chabahar port. Received first ship from Brazil at Chabahar. We have started activity with help of Iranian operator. Regarding machinery order financial arrangement is ready." Gadkari also annouced that India has given permission to the Iranian Bank to open in Mumbai within 3 month and both sides have "resolved lot of pending issues. "Minister (Zarif) give lot proposals for future. We need steel. We ready to supply urea. We had detailed discussion. We resolved lot of pending issues. Function of Chabahar is important for us. Confident we are in position to start function of Chabahar." Zarif said he hoped New Delhi and Tehran would continue to cooperate despite the "illegal US sanctions". He added that "Iran and India have complimentary economies. We need Indian goods and services and India needs goods and services. In banking sector, very happy that both UCO Bank and Pasargad Bank are getting started with business. We have full range of options. We hope despite the illegal US sanctions, India and Iran can cooperate for the benefit of the people and region." Asked if Iran would be keen to supply cheap gas to India to develop industry in Chabahar and nearby areas, Zarif said, "We open to discussion with India so that they can start investments in Chabahar area including petrochemicals. We always open for discussions with India in that area and we welcome proposal from India." Chabahar is key to India's connectivity to its near-west regions, especially Afghanistan and central Asia. Chabahar is also crucial to the North-South International Corridor which connects Mumbai to Moscow. India has already conveyed its readiness to support the development of the Chabahar-Zahedan Rail line to boost connectivity. The physical taking over of the terminal area, cargo handling equipment and office building at Shahid Beheshti Port was completed by December 29 last year and commercial operations have since begun. A Cyprus-registered bulk carrier, the MV Macheras, arrived at Chabahar with a 72,458 MT cargo of corn on December 30. The US has already given India a waiver from sanctions on the port. The US State Department told WION last year that "after extensive consideration, the Secretary has provided for an exception from the imposition of certain sanctions under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act of 2012 (IFCA) with respect to the development of Chabahar port and the construction of an associated railway and for the shipment of non-sanctionable goods through the port for Afghanistan’s use, as well as Afghanistan’s continued imports of Iranian petroleum products.‎"

After India begins operations at Iran's Chabahar port, visiting Iran FM calls for Indian investment

India is hopeful to fully operationalise the strategic Chabahar port in the Sistan-Balochistan province of Iran and the government has allowed an Iranian bank to open a branch in Mumbai for related transactions, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said Tuesday.

Gadkari, after Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif called on him, said that the meeting was "fruitful" and both the sides could resolve several issues.

"Chabahar port is very important for us. We are working very hard on it... Some problems were there, but the Iranian government and their minister... Are also in the process to resolve all the issues as early as possible. I am confident that we will be in a position to start full function of Chabahar Port at the earliest," Gadkari said.

The Chabahar port in the Sistan-Balochistan province in the energy-rich nation's southern coast is easily accessible from India's western coast and is increasingly seen as a counter to Pakistan's Gwadar port located at distance of around 80 km from Chabahar.

Zarif said, "We are very happy that both UCO Bank from India and Pasargad Bank from Iran are getting started with the business."

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Union Shipping &amp; Water Resources Min Nitin Gadkari: We had a good discussion over Chabahar port. The first ship to the port has already been received. GoI has given permission to Iranian bank to open a branch in Mumbai, they'll open it in 3 months, it’ll make transactions easier. <a href="https://t.co/FtPdrraxat">pic.twitter.com/FtPdrraxat</a>
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The two banks will facilitate transactions relating to the operation of berths at Chabahar port.

Shipping and Road Transport and Highways Minister Gadkari said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has given all clearances to an Iranian bank which to open a branch within the next three months.

"The government of India has given permission to an Iranian bank to open its branch in Mumbai. It is going to open within three months, and will be used for transactions (related to Chabahar port)," Gadkari said.

India has placed $85 million machinery order for Chabahar, he said.

He said India has already taken over partial operations at Chabahar, and the first ship from Brazil has already been received at the Iranian port.

This is the first time India will be operating a port outside its territory.

The government of India took over the operations of a part of Shahid Beheshti Port, Chabahar, in Iran during the Chabahar Trilateral Agreement meeting held there on December 24, 2018.

The heads of Indian, Iranian and Afghanistan delegations had jointly inaugurated the office of the Indian SPV - India Ports Global Chabahar Free Zone (IPGCFZ) at Chabahar.

Commercial operations began at IPGCFZ with the arrival of a vessel, a Cyprus registered bulk carrier that arrived at Chabahar with 72,458 MT of corn cargo.

The vessel MV Macheras berthed at the terminal at 0130 hrs on December 30, 2018, and IPGCFZ carried out its first cargo operation by discharging the imported cargo (ex-Brazil) using pneumatic un-loaders.

Gadkari said the Iranian Minister has given many proposals including those on a barter system between the two nations.

"They need steel, particularly rail steel and locomotive engines in large quantities, and they are ready to supply urea," he stated.

India can provide steel rails to Iran and the Persian Gulf nation can provide urea to India, he added.

"For railway line, IRCON has to work. We have got a proposal for locomotive engines ...," the minister added.

Iranian Minister Zarif said, "We had very good discussions on both Chabahar as well as other areas of cooperation between Iran and India. The two countries complement each other and we can cooperate in a whole range of areas... We hope that in spite of the illegal US sanctions, Iran and India can cooperate further for the benefit of the people of the two countries and for the region."

India started interacting with Iran on Chabahar Port around 2003, but a major push was received in the second half of 2014, resulting in the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries for the development of Chabahar Port in May 2015.

This MoU translated into a formal ten-year contract for equipping and operating the Chabahar port, which was executed on May 23, 2016, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Tehran.

On account of challenges in activation of the said contract, the foundation of an interim period contract was laid during the visit of Hassan Rouhani, President of Islamic Republic of Iran to New Delhi in February 2018. Resultant was a formal short-term contract between the two sides that was signed on May 6, 2018.

The first phase of the Chabahar port was inaugurated in December 2017 by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, opening a new strategic route connecting Iran, India and Afghanistan bypassing Pakistan.

The Chabahar port is being considered as a gateway to golden opportunities for trade by India, Iran and Afghanistan with central Asian countries, besides ramping up trade among the three countries in the wake of Pakistan denying transit access to New Delhi.

Under the agreement signed between India and Iran earlier, India is to equip and operate two berths in Chabahar port Phase-I with a capital investment of $85.21 million and annual revenue expenditure of $22.95 million on a 10-year lease.&nbsp;

India is hopeful to fully operationalise the strategic Chabahar port in the Sistan-Balochistan province of Iran and the government has allowed an Iranian bank to open a branch in Mumbai for related transactions, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said Tuesday.

India is hopeful to fully operationalise the strategic Chabahar port in the Sistan-Balochistan province of Iran and the government has allowed an Iranian bank to open a branch in Mumbai for related transactions, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said Tuesday. Gadkari, after Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif called on him, said that the meeting was "fruitful" and both the sides could resolve several issues. "Chabahar port is very important for us. We are working very hard on it... Some problems were there, but the Iranian government and their minister... Are also in the process to resolve all the issues as early as possible. I am confident that we will be in a position to start full function of Chabahar Port at the earliest," Gadkari said. The Chabahar port in the Sistan-Balochistan province in the energy-rich nation's southern coast is easily accessible from India's western coast and is increasingly seen as a counter to Pakistan's Gwadar port located at distance of around 80 km from Chabahar. Zarif said, "We are very happy that both UCO Bank from India and Pasargad Bank from Iran are getting started with the business." Union Shipping & Water Resources Min Nitin Gadkari: We had a good discussion over Chabahar port. The first ship to the port has already been received. GoI has given permission to Iranian bank to open a branch in Mumbai, they'll open it in 3 months, it’ll make transactions easier. pic.twitter.com/FtPdrraxat — ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2019 × The two banks will facilitate transactions relating to the operation of berths at Chabahar port. Shipping and Road Transport and Highways Minister Gadkari said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has given all clearances to an Iranian bank which to open a branch within the next three months. "The government of India has given permission to an Iranian bank to open its branch in Mumbai. It is going to open within three months, and will be used for transactions (related to Chabahar port)," Gadkari said. India has placed $85 million machinery order for Chabahar, he said. He said India has already taken over partial operations at Chabahar, and the first ship from Brazil has already been received at the Iranian port. This is the first time India will be operating a port outside its territory. The government of India took over the operations of a part of Shahid Beheshti Port, Chabahar, in Iran during the Chabahar Trilateral Agreement meeting held there on December 24, 2018. The heads of Indian, Iranian and Afghanistan delegations had jointly inaugurated the office of the Indian SPV - India Ports Global Chabahar Free Zone (IPGCFZ) at Chabahar. Commercial operations began at IPGCFZ with the arrival of a vessel, a Cyprus registered bulk carrier that arrived at Chabahar with 72,458 MT of corn cargo. The vessel MV Macheras berthed at the terminal at 0130 hrs on December 30, 2018, and IPGCFZ carried out its first cargo operation by discharging the imported cargo (ex-Brazil) using pneumatic un-loaders. Gadkari said the Iranian Minister has given many proposals including those on a barter system between the two nations. "They need steel, particularly rail steel and locomotive engines in large quantities, and they are ready to supply urea," he stated. India can provide steel rails to Iran and the Persian Gulf nation can provide urea to India, he added. "For railway line, IRCON has to work. We have got a proposal for locomotive engines ...," the minister added. Iranian Minister Zarif said, "We had very good discussions on both Chabahar as well as other areas of cooperation between Iran and India. The two countries complement each other and we can cooperate in a whole range of areas... We hope that in spite of the illegal US sanctions, Iran and India can cooperate further for the benefit of the people of the two countries and for the region." India started interacting with Iran on Chabahar Port around 2003, but a major push was received in the second half of 2014, resulting in the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries for the development of Chabahar Port in May 2015. This MoU translated into a formal ten-year contract for equipping and operating the Chabahar port, which was executed on May 23, 2016, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Tehran. On account of challenges in activation of the said contract, the foundation of an interim period contract was laid during the visit of Hassan Rouhani, President of Islamic Republic of Iran to New Delhi in February 2018. Resultant was a formal short-term contract between the two sides that was signed on May 6, 2018. The first phase of the Chabahar port was inaugurated in December 2017 by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, opening a new strategic route connecting Iran, India and Afghanistan bypassing Pakistan. The Chabahar port is being considered as a gateway to golden opportunities for trade by India, Iran and Afghanistan with central Asian countries, besides ramping up trade among the three countries in the wake of Pakistan denying transit access to New Delhi. Under the agreement signed between India and Iran earlier, India is to equip and operate two berths in Chabahar port Phase-I with a capital investment of $85.21 million and annual revenue expenditure of $22.95 million on a 10-year lease.

India to fully operationalise Chabahar port; Iranian bank branch to open in Mumbai: Gadkari 

Chabahar is back in the news after a hiatus of about two years. The contexts of its importance are several but the first one in the current milieu is the fact that despite President Donald Trump’s avowed sanctions on everything related to Iran, India’s Chabahar-based relationship with Tehran has received a waiver. That puts on course the fructification of efforts which commenced many summers ago but got an impetus with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Tehran in May 2016, leading to the signing of the trilateral tripartite agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan.

The US provided an “exception” from certain sanctions, to the Iranian port of Chabahar that India has developed and used for reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. This exemption is in addition to temporary freedom from sanctions that the US announced for India and seven major importers of Iranian crude oil.

Why is Chabahar strategically important, for India, the US, Iran and Afghanistan? That will answer many questions. It starts with the fact that its geostrategic location, outside the Persian Gulf and yet on the Iranian coastline, puts it slightly out of harm’s way in the event of the Straits of Hormuz being forcibly closed; although, it is well appreciated that such a closure will no doubt presuppose an adverse effect on all of Iran’s port facilities.

To access Central Asia, often referred to as the heart of Asia, and Afghanistan, there are only two routes from the Indian Ocean. The first is from Pakistan’s Gwadar or Karachi ports and the second is from Chabahar which lies on the southeastern coast of Iran in the Sistan-Baluchistan province. Why the US agreed to waive sanctions for activities connected with the development of the port is simply because India is the nation providing alternatives for establishing communication arteries to Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan.

For 17 years, the US has fought in Afghanistan and depended on a single artery for its logistics; through Karachi and Pakistan-Baluchistan into Afghan territory. Due to its animosity with Iran, the clearly viable alternative via Chabahar through Iranian territory, to West Afghanistan could not be exploited. The lack of development of Chabahar placed Afghanistan in a predicament because of its reliance on Karachi with all strings in the hands of none-too-friendly Pakistan.

India’s stakes in Afghanistan being high, the realization perhaps came late that Chabahar had serious transformational strategic potential to bypass Pakistan. Once India demonstrated its deep interest and the tripartite agreement with Iran and Afghanistan was signed in mid-2016, the movement of a consignment of wheat from Kandla port in Gujarat to Kabul via Chabahar went through smoothly; that experiment spurred further movement on Chabahar.

With portents of conflict termination in Afghanistan, the US too realised the important role India could play at this stage, such that all eggs were not in Pakistan’s basket. Otherwise all Pakistan needed to do in order to bring down the Afghan National Unity Government (NUG) was to establish a blockade from Karachi and the landlocked state of Afghanistan would have few options.

The tripartite agreement resolved that problem and increased India’s significance in Afghanistan. With India’s access via Chabahar, the viability of maintaining Afghanistan as a state under current dispensation, with minimal US presence, exponentially increases and there is considerable risk reduction. The joint Indian and US strategic interests in Afghanistan aim at the dilution of Pakistani influence and capability.

For the US the option of India in control is far more positive than leaving this to the stranglehold of China, Russia and Pakistan with the latter continuing to improve relations with Iran. For the Afghan NUG, this is as blissful a situation as it can expect with reduction of dependence on Pakistan and an avenue open to trade and assistance from India.

The Indian firm India Ports Global Limited has formally taken over operations at the Shahid Beheshti port in Chabahar. The routes for trade and transit corridors between the three countries have been finalised but this will remain work in progress as subsequent infrastructure caters for railway connectivity and eventual linkage to the INSTC.

While India has successfully completed a major geostrategic venture on one flank of the Persian Gulf, it needs to be mindful of the fact that its interests are divided on both sides of the Gulf. That is where the last few years of straddling diplomacy, which the Ministry of External Affairs has done with a fair degree of aplomb, will hopefully pay a dividend. India remains one of those unique countries which the Prime Minister of Israel and the President of Iran visited within two weeks of each other.

India has long and extremely important relationships with Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait which are as strategic as any of its relationships. The world of multilateralism is a sphere in which India is getting increasingly competent. That is why it needs to believe that Chabahar is the opening to the long-awaited strategic and civilisational relationship with Iran which need not be at the cost of the same which must be pursued with the Arab Gulf countries with equal vigour. 2018 was a good year for this, 2019 promises to be better.

(This article was originally published on DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-iran-a-port-of-call-for-india-2704295">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Chabahar is back in the news after a hiatus of about two years. The contexts of its importance are several but the first one in the current milieu is the fact that despite President Donald Trump’s avowed sanctions on everything related to Iran, India’s Chabahar-based relationship with Tehran has received a waiver.

Chabahar is back in the news after a hiatus of about two years. The contexts of its importance are several but the first one in the current milieu is the fact that despite President Donald Trump’s avowed sanctions on everything related to Iran, India’s Chabahar-based relationship with Tehran has received a waiver. That puts on course the fructification of efforts which commenced many summers ago but got an impetus with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Tehran in May 2016, leading to the signing of the trilateral tripartite agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan. The US provided an “exception” from certain sanctions, to the Iranian port of Chabahar that India has developed and used for reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. This exemption is in addition to temporary freedom from sanctions that the US announced for India and seven major importers of Iranian crude oil. Why is Chabahar strategically important, for India, the US, Iran and Afghanistan? That will answer many questions. It starts with the fact that its geostrategic location, outside the Persian Gulf and yet on the Iranian coastline, puts it slightly out of harm’s way in the event of the Straits of Hormuz being forcibly closed; although, it is well appreciated that such a closure will no doubt presuppose an adverse effect on all of Iran’s port facilities. To access Central Asia, often referred to as the heart of Asia, and Afghanistan, there are only two routes from the Indian Ocean. The first is from Pakistan’s Gwadar or Karachi ports and the second is from Chabahar which lies on the southeastern coast of Iran in the Sistan-Baluchistan province. Why the US agreed to waive sanctions for activities connected with the development of the port is simply because India is the nation providing alternatives for establishing communication arteries to Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan. For 17 years, the US has fought in Afghanistan and depended on a single artery for its logistics; through Karachi and Pakistan-Baluchistan into Afghan territory. Due to its animosity with Iran, the clearly viable alternative via Chabahar through Iranian territory, to West Afghanistan could not be exploited. The lack of development of Chabahar placed Afghanistan in a predicament because of its reliance on Karachi with all strings in the hands of none-too-friendly Pakistan. India’s stakes in Afghanistan being high, the realization perhaps came late that Chabahar had serious transformational strategic potential to bypass Pakistan. Once India demonstrated its deep interest and the tripartite agreement with Iran and Afghanistan was signed in mid-2016, the movement of a consignment of wheat from Kandla port in Gujarat to Kabul via Chabahar went through smoothly; that experiment spurred further movement on Chabahar. With portents of conflict termination in Afghanistan, the US too realised the important role India could play at this stage, such that all eggs were not in Pakistan’s basket. Otherwise all Pakistan needed to do in order to bring down the Afghan National Unity Government (NUG) was to establish a blockade from Karachi and the landlocked state of Afghanistan would have few options. The tripartite agreement resolved that problem and increased India’s significance in Afghanistan. With India’s access via Chabahar, the viability of maintaining Afghanistan as a state under current dispensation, with minimal US presence, exponentially increases and there is considerable risk reduction. The joint Indian and US strategic interests in Afghanistan aim at the dilution of Pakistani influence and capability. For the US the option of India in control is far more positive than leaving this to the stranglehold of China, Russia and Pakistan with the latter continuing to improve relations with Iran. For the Afghan NUG, this is as blissful a situation as it can expect with reduction of dependence on Pakistan and an avenue open to trade and assistance from India. The Indian firm India Ports Global Limited has formally taken over operations at the Shahid Beheshti port in Chabahar. The routes for trade and transit corridors between the three countries have been finalised but this will remain work in progress as subsequent infrastructure caters for railway connectivity and eventual linkage to the INSTC. While India has successfully completed a major geostrategic venture on one flank of the Persian Gulf, it needs to be mindful of the fact that its interests are divided on both sides of the Gulf. That is where the last few years of straddling diplomacy, which the Ministry of External Affairs has done with a fair degree of aplomb, will hopefully pay a dividend. India remains one of those unique countries which the Prime Minister of Israel and the President of Iran visited within two weeks of each other. India has long and extremely important relationships with Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait which are as strategic as any of its relationships. The world of multilateralism is a sphere in which India is getting increasingly competent. That is why it needs to believe that Chabahar is the opening to the long-awaited strategic and civilisational relationship with Iran which need not be at the cost of the same which must be pursued with the Arab Gulf countries with equal vigour. 2018 was a good year for this, 2019 promises to be better. (This article was originally published on DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Iran: A port of call for India

The arrival of the USS John C Stennis aircraft carrier group in the Gulf to deter Iran from further testing ballistic missiles is likely to dampen Indian hopes that the Trump administration’s exemption of the port of Chabahar from sanctions against the Islamic republic would help it tighten economic relations with Central Asia and further regional integration.

The group’s presence in the Gulf, the first by a US aircraft carrier in eight months, came amid mounting tension between the United States and Iran following the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the 2015 international agreement that curbed Iran’s nuclear programme and the imposition of harsh sanctions against the Islamic republic. It raised the spectre of a potential military conflagration.

The deployment for a period of two months coincided with a suicide attack on a Revolutionary Guards headquarters in Chabahar that killed two people and wounded 40 others.

Saudi and Iranian media reported that Ansar al-Furqan, a shadowy Iranian Sunni jihadi group that Iran claims is supported by the kingdom as well as the United States and Israel, had claimed responsibility for the attack.

Saudi pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat asserted that the attack “reflects the anger harboured by the (city’s Baloch) minority against the government.” The paper said the Iranian government had expelled thousands of Baloch families from Chabahar and replaced them with Persians in a bid to change its demography. It asserted that Iran was granting nationality to Afghan Shiites who had fought in Syria and Iraq and was moving them to Chabahar.

The paper went on to say that “anti-regime Baloch movements have recently intensified their operations against Tehran in an attempt to deter it from carrying out its plan to expel and marginalise the Baloch from their ancestral regions.”

Saudi Arabia, a staunch supporter of the US’s confrontational approach towards Iran, has pumped large amounts of money into militant, ultraconservative Sunni Muslim anti-Shiite and anti-Iranian religious seminaries along the border between the Pakistani province of Balochistan and the Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchistan that is home to Chabahar, according to militants.

The funding was designed to create the building blocks for a potential covert effort to destabilise Iran by stirring unrest among its ethnic minorities.

The deployment was, according to US officials in response to Iran’s test-firing of a ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple warheads. The US sanctions are in part designed to force Iran to drop its development of ballistic missiles. Iranian officials insist the missiles program is defensive in nature.

&nbsp;“We are accumulating risk of escalation in the region if we fail to restore deterrence,” said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The spectre of increased military tension in the Gulf with the arrival of the aircraft carrier group and of potentially Saudi and US-backed political violence in Iran and a troubling security situation in Afghanistan threatened to diminish the impact of Washington’s granting Indian investment in Chabahar an exemption from its economic sanctions against Iran.

Indian and Iranian officials fear that the United States’ stepped up military posture and heightened tensions could undermine their efforts to turn Chabahar, which sits at the top of the Arabian Sea, into a hub for trade between India and Central Asia rendering the US waiver worthless.

The officials have their hopes pinned on efforts to engineer a peace process in Afghanistan. US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad alongside representatives of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan met this week with the Taliban. The talks are intended to negotiate an end to Afghanistan’s 17-year old war.

An Afghan government delegation, in what diplomats saw as a sign of progress, hovered in the corridors but did not take part in the meeting because of the Taliban’s insistence that it will only talk to the United States. Talks with the Taliban have so far stalled because of the group’s insistence on a timetable for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan.

US officials said the aircraft carrier group, beyond seeking to deter Iran, would also support the US war effort in Afghanistan where the United States has ramped up airstrikes in an effort to press the Taliban into peace talks.

The talks were an opportunity, particularly for Saudi Arabia, whose utility as an ally is being questioned by the US Congress in the wake of the October 2 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, and Pakistan, which the United States accuses of supporting the Taliban, to demonstrate their utility.

US President Donald Trump asked Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan in a letter earlier this month to help bring the Taliban to the negotiating table.

While Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have an interest in using their close ties to the Taliban to help forge an end to the Afghan war, it's not immediately clear that they want to see reduced tensions facilitate the emergence of Chabahar as an Indian-backed hub.

A Saudi think tank, the Arabian Gulf Centre for Iranian Studies (AGCIS) renamed the International Institute of Iranian Studies that is believed to be backed by Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, argued in a study last year that Chabahar posed “a direct threat to the Arab Gulf states” that called for “immediate countermeasures.”

Written by Mohammed Hassan Husseinbor, identified as an Iranian political researcher, the study warned that Chabahar posed a threat because it would enable Iran to increase greater market share in India for its oil exports at the expense of Saudi Arabia, raise foreign investment in the Islamic republic, increase government revenues, and allow Iran to project power in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean.

Noting the vast expanses of Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan province, Husseinbor went on to say that “It would be a formidable challenge, if not impossible, for the Iranian government to protect such long distances and secure Chabahar in the face of widespread Baluch opposition, particularly if this opposition is supported by Iran’s regional adversaries and world powers.”

Similarly, Pakistan is heavily invested in Gwadar, the Chinese-backed port in Balochistan that is a crown jewel of the $45 billion-plus China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a pillar of the People’s Republic’s Belt and Road initiative. Gwadar is a mere 70 kilometres up the coast from Chabahar.

"Pakistan sees India as an existential threat and the idea of India being in any way present on Pakistan's western flank in Afghanistan will always raise alarm bells in Islamabad," said South Asia scholar Michael Kugelman.

If the arrival of the USS John C Stennis aircraft carrier group in the Gulf heralds heightened tension, Pakistan may have less reason to worry. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The arrival of the USS John C Stennis aircraft carrier group in the Gulf to deter Iran from further testing ballistic missiles is likely to dampen Indian hopes that the Trump administration’s exemption of the port of Chabahar from sanctions against the Islamic republic would help it tighten economic relations with Central Asia and further regional integration.

The arrival of the USS John C Stennis aircraft carrier group in the Gulf to deter Iran from further testing ballistic missiles is likely to dampen Indian hopes that the Trump administration’s exemption of the port of Chabahar from sanctions against the Islamic republic would help it tighten economic relations with Central Asia and further regional integration. The group’s presence in the Gulf, the first by a US aircraft carrier in eight months, came amid mounting tension between the United States and Iran following the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the 2015 international agreement that curbed Iran’s nuclear programme and the imposition of harsh sanctions against the Islamic republic. It raised the spectre of a potential military conflagration. The deployment for a period of two months coincided with a suicide attack on a Revolutionary Guards headquarters in Chabahar that killed two people and wounded 40 others. Saudi and Iranian media reported that Ansar al-Furqan, a shadowy Iranian Sunni jihadi group that Iran claims is supported by the kingdom as well as the United States and Israel, had claimed responsibility for the attack. Saudi pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat asserted that the attack “reflects the anger harboured by the (city’s Baloch) minority against the government.” The paper said the Iranian government had expelled thousands of Baloch families from Chabahar and replaced them with Persians in a bid to change its demography. It asserted that Iran was granting nationality to Afghan Shiites who had fought in Syria and Iraq and was moving them to Chabahar. The paper went on to say that “anti-regime Baloch movements have recently intensified their operations against Tehran in an attempt to deter it from carrying out its plan to expel and marginalise the Baloch from their ancestral regions.” Saudi Arabia, a staunch supporter of the US’s confrontational approach towards Iran, has pumped large amounts of money into militant, ultraconservative Sunni Muslim anti-Shiite and anti-Iranian religious seminaries along the border between the Pakistani province of Balochistan and the Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchistan that is home to Chabahar, according to militants. The funding was designed to create the building blocks for a potential covert effort to destabilise Iran by stirring unrest among its ethnic minorities. The deployment was, according to US officials in response to Iran’s test-firing of a ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple warheads. The US sanctions are in part designed to force Iran to drop its development of ballistic missiles. Iranian officials insist the missiles program is defensive in nature. “We are accumulating risk of escalation in the region if we fail to restore deterrence,” said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The spectre of increased military tension in the Gulf with the arrival of the aircraft carrier group and of potentially Saudi and US-backed political violence in Iran and a troubling security situation in Afghanistan threatened to diminish the impact of Washington’s granting Indian investment in Chabahar an exemption from its economic sanctions against Iran. Indian and Iranian officials fear that the United States’ stepped up military posture and heightened tensions could undermine their efforts to turn Chabahar, which sits at the top of the Arabian Sea, into a hub for trade between India and Central Asia rendering the US waiver worthless. The officials have their hopes pinned on efforts to engineer a peace process in Afghanistan. US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad alongside representatives of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan met this week with the Taliban. The talks are intended to negotiate an end to Afghanistan’s 17-year old war. An Afghan government delegation, in what diplomats saw as a sign of progress, hovered in the corridors but did not take part in the meeting because of the Taliban’s insistence that it will only talk to the United States. Talks with the Taliban have so far stalled because of the group’s insistence on a timetable for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan. US officials said the aircraft carrier group, beyond seeking to deter Iran, would also support the US war effort in Afghanistan where the United States has ramped up airstrikes in an effort to press the Taliban into peace talks. The talks were an opportunity, particularly for Saudi Arabia, whose utility as an ally is being questioned by the US Congress in the wake of the October 2 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, and Pakistan, which the United States accuses of supporting the Taliban, to demonstrate their utility. US President Donald Trump asked Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan in a letter earlier this month to help bring the Taliban to the negotiating table. While Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have an interest in using their close ties to the Taliban to help forge an end to the Afghan war, it's not immediately clear that they want to see reduced tensions facilitate the emergence of Chabahar as an Indian-backed hub. A Saudi think tank, the Arabian Gulf Centre for Iranian Studies (AGCIS) renamed the International Institute of Iranian Studies that is believed to be backed by Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, argued in a study last year that Chabahar posed “a direct threat to the Arab Gulf states” that called for “immediate countermeasures.” Written by Mohammed Hassan Husseinbor, identified as an Iranian political researcher, the study warned that Chabahar posed a threat because it would enable Iran to increase greater market share in India for its oil exports at the expense of Saudi Arabia, raise foreign investment in the Islamic republic, increase government revenues, and allow Iran to project power in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean. Noting the vast expanses of Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan province, Husseinbor went on to say that “It would be a formidable challenge, if not impossible, for the Iranian government to protect such long distances and secure Chabahar in the face of widespread Baluch opposition, particularly if this opposition is supported by Iran’s regional adversaries and world powers.” Similarly, Pakistan is heavily invested in Gwadar, the Chinese-backed port in Balochistan that is a crown jewel of the $45 billion-plus China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a pillar of the People’s Republic’s Belt and Road initiative. Gwadar is a mere 70 kilometres up the coast from Chabahar. "Pakistan sees India as an existential threat and the idea of India being in any way present on Pakistan's western flank in Afghanistan will always raise alarm bells in Islamabad," said South Asia scholar Michael Kugelman. If the arrival of the USS John C Stennis aircraft carrier group in the Gulf heralds heightened tension, Pakistan may have less reason to worry. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Chabahar port: Stepped up US military posture in Gulf threatens India's interests

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-hold-second-round-of-trilateral-dialogue-with-pakistan-china-184232">Afghanistan has voiced</a> appreciation for the "flexibility" shown by its "strategic partner" the US in exempting the Chabahar port project, being developed by India, from its tough sanctions against Iran.

Last month, the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-central-bank-expected-to-raise-rates-tuesday-trump-lashes-out-at-it-184903">Trump administration</a> exempted India from imposition of certain sanctions for the development of the strategically-located Chabahar Port in Iran, along with the construction of the railway line connecting it with Afghanistan.&nbsp;

The US had imposed "the toughest ever" sanctions on a defiant Iran aimed at altering the Iranian regime's "behaviour". The sanctions cover Iran's banking and energy sectors and reinstate penalties for countries and companies in Europe, Asia and elsewhere that do not halt Iranian oil imports.&nbsp;

However, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had said that eight countries -- India, China, Italy, Greece, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey -- were temporarily allowed to continue buying Iranian oil as they showed "significant reduction" in oil purchase from the Persian Gulf country.&nbsp;

"The Chabahar Port remains an important gateway for providing commercially viable access to the sea linking the Indian Ocean with Afghanistan, Central Asia and beyond. In this regard, we appreciate the collaboration and flexibility of our strategic partner, the United States to work with Afghanistan, Iran and India towards exempting the port from its Sanctions, Afghanistan's Permanent Representative to the UN Mahmoud Saikal said Monday at a Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Saikal said since last year, Kabul has operationalised air-cargo corridors with India, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Europe, Russia, UAE, Saudi Arabia and China, leading to a substantial increase in export of Afghan products abroad.&nbsp;

The year 2018 also witnessed the implementation of the Afghanistan section of the TAPI gas pipeline project, "which will revolutionise the energy sector in Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India".&nbsp;

A State Department spokesperson had said that the fate of Chabahar Port that the "exception relates to reconstruction assistance and economic development for Afghanistan. These activities are vital for the ongoing support of Afghanistan's growth and humanitarian relief."&nbsp;

India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Tanmaya Lal told the Security Council meeting that New Delhi is working closely with Kabul in implementing development projects.&nbsp;

In May 2016, India, Iran and Afghanistan inked a pact which entailed establishment of Transit and Transport Corridor among the three countries using Chabahar Port as one of the regional hubs for sea transportation in Iran, besides multi-modal transport of goods and passengers across the three nations.

The port in the Sistan-Balochistan province on the energy-rich nations southern coast is easily accessible from India's western coast and is increasingly seen as a counter to Pakistan's Gwadar Port, which is being developed with Chinese investment and is located at distance of around 80 kms from Chabahar.&nbsp;

The Chabahar Port is considered a gateway to golden opportunities for trade by India, Iran and Afghanistan with central Asian countries besides ramping up trade among the three countries after Pakistan denied transit access to India.&nbsp;

India also criticised the inability and unwillingness of the international community and the Security Council to deal effectively with the source of deteriorating security situation and growing terror attacks in the war-torn country.&nbsp;

"The sanctuaries and safe havens provided to these terror networks for years are well known. The activities of Taliban, Haqqani Network, Da'esh, Al Qaeda and its proscribed affiliates including the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed have to be stopped," Lal said.&nbsp;

He also strongly criticized the Security Council sanctions committee for refusing to designate new leaders of the Taliban or to freeze the assets of the slain leader of Taliban, saying the powerful UN body is falling short of what is expected of it by the Afghans and international community. From the lessons from the past, we who are located in New York, are aware that peace in Afghanistan is tied to the peace and security in the entire world."

Afghanistan has voiced appreciation for the "flexibility" shown by its "strategic partner" the US in exempting the Chabahar port project, being developed by India, from its tough sanctions against Iran.

Afghanistan has voiced appreciation for the "flexibility" shown by its "strategic partner" the US in exempting the Chabahar port project, being developed by India, from its tough sanctions against Iran. Last month, the Trump administration exempted India from imposition of certain sanctions for the development of the strategically-located Chabahar Port in Iran, along with the construction of the railway line connecting it with Afghanistan. The US had imposed "the toughest ever" sanctions on a defiant Iran aimed at altering the Iranian regime's "behaviour". The sanctions cover Iran's banking and energy sectors and reinstate penalties for countries and companies in Europe, Asia and elsewhere that do not halt Iranian oil imports. However, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had said that eight countries -- India, China, Italy, Greece, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey -- were temporarily allowed to continue buying Iranian oil as they showed "significant reduction" in oil purchase from the Persian Gulf country. "The Chabahar Port remains an important gateway for providing commercially viable access to the sea linking the Indian Ocean with Afghanistan, Central Asia and beyond. In this regard, we appreciate the collaboration and flexibility of our strategic partner, the United States to work with Afghanistan, Iran and India towards exempting the port from its Sanctions, Afghanistan's Permanent Representative to the UN Mahmoud Saikal said Monday at a Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan. Saikal said since last year, Kabul has operationalised air-cargo corridors with India, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Europe, Russia, UAE, Saudi Arabia and China, leading to a substantial increase in export of Afghan products abroad. The year 2018 also witnessed the implementation of the Afghanistan section of the TAPI gas pipeline project, "which will revolutionise the energy sector in Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India". A State Department spokesperson had said that the fate of Chabahar Port that the "exception relates to reconstruction assistance and economic development for Afghanistan. These activities are vital for the ongoing support of Afghanistan's growth and humanitarian relief." India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Tanmaya Lal told the Security Council meeting that New Delhi is working closely with Kabul in implementing development projects. In May 2016, India, Iran and Afghanistan inked a pact which entailed establishment of Transit and Transport Corridor among the three countries using Chabahar Port as one of the regional hubs for sea transportation in Iran, besides multi-modal transport of goods and passengers across the three nations. The port in the Sistan-Balochistan province on the energy-rich nations southern coast is easily accessible from India's western coast and is increasingly seen as a counter to Pakistan's Gwadar Port, which is being developed with Chinese investment and is located at distance of around 80 kms from Chabahar. The Chabahar Port is considered a gateway to golden opportunities for trade by India, Iran and Afghanistan with central Asian countries besides ramping up trade among the three countries after Pakistan denied transit access to India. India also criticised the inability and unwillingness of the international community and the Security Council to deal effectively with the source of deteriorating security situation and growing terror attacks in the war-torn country. "The sanctuaries and safe havens provided to these terror networks for years are well known. The activities of Taliban, Haqqani Network, Da'esh, Al Qaeda and its proscribed affiliates including the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed have to be stopped," Lal said. He also strongly criticized the Security Council sanctions committee for refusing to designate new leaders of the Taliban or to freeze the assets of the slain leader of Taliban, saying the powerful UN body is falling short of what is expected of it by the Afghans and international community. From the lessons from the past, we who are located in New York, are aware that peace in Afghanistan is tied to the peace and security in the entire world."

Afghanistan appreciates US' flexibility towards exempting Chabahar port from Iran sanctions 

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-not-in-a-position-to-tell-us-what-to-do-says-saudi-arabia-on-oil-price-cut-181971">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-not-in-a-position-to-tell-us-what-to-do-says-saudi-arabia-on-oil-price-cut-181971"> not in a position to tell us what to </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-not-in-a-position-to-tell-us-what-to-do-says-saudi-arabia-on-oil-price-cut-181971">do,</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-not-in-a-position-to-tell-us-what-to-do-says-saudi-arabia-on-oil-price-cut-181971"> says Saudi Arabia on oil price cut</a>

In a move aimed at President Trump, Saudi Arabia's oil minister said the US should not try to dictate policy to the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries OPEC.

President Trump in a tweet on Wednesday had said the world does not want to see, or need higher oil prices.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/kartarpur-corridor-long-standing-demand-of-sikhs-unfortunate-pak-tried-to-politicise-religious-issue-india-181940">Kartarpur corridor </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/kartarpur-corridor-long-standing-demand-of-sikhs-unfortunate-pak-tried-to-politicise-religious-issue-india-181940">long standing</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/kartarpur-corridor-long-standing-demand-of-sikhs-unfortunate-pak-tried-to-politicise-religious-issue-india-181940"> demand of Sikhs, unfortunate Pak tried to politicise religious issue: India</a>

India's ministry of external affairs(MEA) said today that India's protocol officers were denied entry for the Kartarpur ceremony.

"We see it as the fulfilment of the long-standing demand of the Sikh community. It is unfortunate that Pakistan attempted to politicised a religious issue," MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar said.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/perpetrators-involved-in-chabahar-terror-attack-should-be-brought-to-justice-india-181926">Perpetrators involved in Chabahar terror attack should be brought to justice: India</a>

India today condemned the suicide attack on the Chabahar port in southeastern Iran in which at least three people were killed and several others were injured.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-urges-immediate-release-of-huawei-cfo-meng-wanzhou-181949">China urges </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-urges-immediate-release-of-huawei-cfo-meng-wanzhou-181949">immediate</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-urges-immediate-release-of-huawei-cfo-meng-wanzhou-181949"> release of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou&nbsp;</a>

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday firmly opposed the arrest of Huawei's chief financial officer in Vancouver, Canada and urged an immediate release of her.

Geng Shuang, spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, made the remarks at a regular press briefing in Beijing. Huawei's CFO Meng Wanzhou was detained in Canada at the request of the United States and the US is seeking her extradition.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/can-uk-renounce-brexit-eu-court-decides-monday-181916">Can </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/can-uk-renounce-brexit-eu-court-decides-monday-181916">UK</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/can-uk-renounce-brexit-eu-court-decides-monday-181916"> renounce Brexit? EU court to decide on Monday</a>

The European Court of Justice is expected to announce on Monday whether or not Britain can unilaterally halt its march towards Brexit, a day before a make-or-break vote by MPs on the divorce deal.

US not in a position to tell us what to do, says Saudi Arabia on oil price cut In a move aimed at President Trump, Saudi Arabia's oil minister said the US should not try to dictate policy to the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries OPEC.

US not in a position to tell us what to do, says Saudi Arabia on oil price cut In a move aimed at President Trump, Saudi Arabia's oil minister said the US should not try to dictate policy to the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries OPEC. President Trump in a tweet on Wednesday had said the world does not want to see, or need higher oil prices. Kartarpur corridor long standing demand of Sikhs, unfortunate Pak tried to politicise religious issue: India India's ministry of external affairs(MEA) said today that India's protocol officers were denied entry for the Kartarpur ceremony. "We see it as the fulfilment of the long-standing demand of the Sikh community. It is unfortunate that Pakistan attempted to politicised a religious issue," MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar said. Perpetrators involved in Chabahar terror attack should be brought to justice: India India today condemned the suicide attack on the Chabahar port in southeastern Iran in which at least three people were killed and several others were injured. China urges immediate release of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday firmly opposed the arrest of Huawei's chief financial officer in Vancouver, Canada and urged an immediate release of her. Geng Shuang, spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, made the remarks at a regular press briefing in Beijing. Huawei's CFO Meng Wanzhou was detained in Canada at the request of the United States and the US is seeking her extradition. Can UK renounce Brexit? EU court to decide on Monday The European Court of Justice is expected to announce on Monday whether or not Britain can unilaterally halt its march towards Brexit, a day before a make-or-break vote by MPs on the divorce deal.

News brief: Big stories of the day

India today condemned the suicide attack <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/3-killed-several-injured-in-explosion-at-irans-southern-port-town-of-chabahar-181866">on the Chabahar port in southeastern</a> Iran in which at least three people were killed and several others were injured.

The port city is being developed by India's help as a major economic hub connecting India with Afghanistan and West Asia. The port allows Indian ships a transit route for trade with Afghanistan and central Asia in the landlocked area, bypassing Pakistan.

The port lies in Sistan-Baluchistan province some 100 kilometres west of the Pakistan border.

India had signed a deal with Iran two years ago to build special economic zones in the port to facilitate trade. "The explosion was very strong and broke the glass of many buildings close by,"&nbsp;Chabahar city governor Rahmdel Bameri said.

Several shops were affected as a result of the blast which wounded women and children.&nbsp;"This terrorist act led to the martyrdom of two members of the police force," the province's deputy governor in charge of security, Mohammad Hadi Marashi said.

"India strongly condemns today's terrorist attack in Chabahar in Iran. We express condolences to the government and people of Iran and families of victims," India's ministry of external affairs(MEA) spokesman Raveesh Kumar said.

"Perpetrators should be brought to justice expeditiously. &nbsp;There can be no justification for any act of terror," the spokesman added.

Chabahar has recently become the hotbed of conflict between Pakistan-based Baluchi separatists and Sunni Muslims. The strategic importance of the port city can be gauged from the fact that the US recently said it would exempt the port from new sanctions on Tehran considering its value for war-hit Afghanistan.

The US has exempted railway project and Iranian petroleum shipments into Afghanistan from Iran in a move seen as a strategic tie-up with India.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/urRRjDPD1cg" width="560"></iframe>

India today condemned the suicide attack on the Chabahar port in southeastern Iran in which at least three people were killed and several others were injured. The port city is being developed by India's help as a major economic hub connecting India with Afghanistan and West Asia.

India today condemned the suicide attack on the Chabahar port in southeastern Iran in which at least three people were killed and several others were injured. The port city is being developed by India's help as a major economic hub connecting India with Afghanistan and West Asia. The port allows Indian ships a transit route for trade with Afghanistan and central Asia in the landlocked area, bypassing Pakistan. The port lies in Sistan-Baluchistan province some 100 kilometres west of the Pakistan border. India had signed a deal with Iran two years ago to build special economic zones in the port to facilitate trade. "The explosion was very strong and broke the glass of many buildings close by," Chabahar city governor Rahmdel Bameri said. Several shops were affected as a result of the blast which wounded women and children. "This terrorist act led to the martyrdom of two members of the police force," the province's deputy governor in charge of security, Mohammad Hadi Marashi said. "India strongly condemns today's terrorist attack in Chabahar in Iran. We express condolences to the government and people of Iran and families of victims," India's ministry of external affairs(MEA) spokesman Raveesh Kumar said. "Perpetrators should be brought to justice expeditiously. There can be no justification for any act of terror," the spokesman added. Chabahar has recently become the hotbed of conflict between Pakistan-based Baluchi separatists and Sunni Muslims. The strategic importance of the port city can be gauged from the fact that the US recently said it would exempt the port from new sanctions on Tehran considering its value for war-hit Afghanistan. The US has exempted railway project and Iranian petroleum shipments into Afghanistan from Iran in a move seen as a strategic tie-up with India.

Perpetrators involved in Chabahar terror attack should be brought to justice: India

A suicide bomber killed at least four people outside a police headquarters in the port city of Chabahar in restive southeastern Iran on Thursday, its governor said.

Chabahar governor Rahmdel Bameri said many people were also wounded in the morning car bombing.

"The explosion was very strong and broke the glass of many buildings close by," Bameri told state television.

Many nearby shop owners and civilian passers-by, including women and children, were severely wounded, he added.

Chabahar lies in Sistan-Baluchistan province some 100 kilometres (60 miles) west of the Pakistan border.

The province has a large, mainly Sunni Muslim ethnic Baluchi community which straddles the border and has long been a flashpoint, with Pakistan-based Baluchi separatists and jihadists carrying out cross-border attacks targeting the Shiite authorities.

The province's deputy governor in charge of security, Mohammad Hadi Marashi, said multiple assailants took part in Thursday's attack.

"The terrorists tried to enter Chabahar police headquarters but they were prevented by the guards and they detonated the car bomb," he said.

Chabahar has a deep-water port on the Gulf of Oman and with Indian assistance Iran has been developing it as a a major energy and freight hub between Central Asia and India, bypassing Pakistan.

A suicide bomber killed at least four people outside a police headquarters in the port city of Chabahar in restive southeastern Iran on Thursday, its governor said.

A suicide bomber killed at least four people outside a police headquarters in the port city of Chabahar in restive southeastern Iran on Thursday, its governor said. Chabahar governor Rahmdel Bameri said many people were also wounded in the morning car bombing. "The explosion was very strong and broke the glass of many buildings close by," Bameri told state television. Many nearby shop owners and civilian passers-by, including women and children, were severely wounded, he added. Chabahar lies in Sistan-Baluchistan province some 100 kilometres (60 miles) west of the Pakistan border. The province has a large, mainly Sunni Muslim ethnic Baluchi community which straddles the border and has long been a flashpoint, with Pakistan-based Baluchi separatists and jihadists carrying out cross-border attacks targeting the Shiite authorities. The province's deputy governor in charge of security, Mohammad Hadi Marashi, said multiple assailants took part in Thursday's attack. "The terrorists tried to enter Chabahar police headquarters but they were prevented by the guards and they detonated the car bomb," he said. Chabahar has a deep-water port on the Gulf of Oman and with Indian assistance Iran has been developing it as a a major energy and freight hub between Central Asia and India, bypassing Pakistan.

Suicide bomber kills 4 at port city Chabahar in southeast Iran

In an exclusive conversation with WION's principal diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, European Union's ambassador to India Tomasz Kozlowski welcomed New Delhi's role in global governance and said it is in favour of India's efforts to develop Chabahar port to connect with Afghanistan. But on India's data localisation plans, the ambassador said it may be a burden for the free flow of business data. Here is the full interview.

WION: How do you characterize New Delhi-Brussel ties and why is India an important ally for Brussels?

Kozlowski: The European union perceives India as an extremely important partner for the European Union. First of all, India enjoys very high economic growth, India is growing, it has a huge economic potential for bilateral, mutually beneficial cooperation for the future, that is why we have a well-established cooperation partnership.

The second rationale is India is an important international partner -- very much respected and very influential. We are looking for partners all around the world with whom we share the same approach on global governance. India and EU are promoting rules based on the international order to multilateral approach. That is why we think we can make an impact on shaping or reshaping global political and economic governance.

WION: How do you see the current economic environment in India, especially the ease of doing business?&nbsp;

Kozlowski: According to the European economic community in India, and we have 6,000 EU companies, EU is the largest trading partner. Europe is one of the largest foreign investors in India and provider of technology.

According to our business community, the business environment has improved substantially in the last few years. Of course, the situation might be better in the future. The fact the business environment is better is reflected in the 'ease of doing business' ranking in which India stands 77th.&nbsp;

WION: The India-EU Free trade agreement has been stuck for 10 years with no progress, any comments?&nbsp;

Kozlowski: Concerning EU India trade ties, EU is the largest trading partner for India. we have here the presence of European companies. EU is fully committed to having a comprehensive, economically meaningful, mutually beneficial agreement and we are in the process of discussing, very actively, the way forward for a possible FTA.

WION: Connectivity is the new geopolitical currency. Your reaction to India connecting EU through Chabahar?

Kozlowski: &nbsp;EU is in favour and support of all connectivity initiatives between India and EU. A few months ago, EU approved its own strategy on connectivity. We are in favour of India's efforts to rebuild or develop Chabahar port as an entry point to Afghanistan, further to central Asia and even to Europe. We are very much in favour.

WION: Your take on the privacy debate in India and EU? Any comments on India's data localisation plans?

Kozlowski: Privacy is an important right for the citizens of India and for the European Union. EU approved its own regulations which are known as GDPR. As I understand, India is working on its own privacy law.

With respect to data location, we don't share India's sentiment to such a solution. We think such steps may be a burden for the free flow of business data between India and its partners. &nbsp;

WION: Your reaction to the Brexit development that is taking place and Brexit's impact on India-EU ties?

Kozlowski: Brexit is a very unfortunate development but we respect the decision taken by the British people which are now followed by the British government.

From the point of view of EU, we are prepared for signing an agreement with the UK in coming days on the Brexit and it will not impact EU-India relations. We are committed to honouring all our agreement in developing cooperation.

In an exclusive conversation with WION's principal diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, European Union's ambassador to India Tomasz Kozlowski welcomed New Delhi's role in global governance and said it is in favour of India's efforts to develop Chabahar port to connect with Afghanistan.

In an exclusive conversation with WION's principal diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, European Union's ambassador to India Tomasz Kozlowski welcomed New Delhi's role in global governance and said it is in favour of India's efforts to develop Chabahar port to connect with Afghanistan. But on India's data localisation plans, the ambassador said it may be a burden for the free flow of business data. Here is the full interview. WION: How do you characterize New Delhi-Brussel ties and why is India an important ally for Brussels? Kozlowski: The European union perceives India as an extremely important partner for the European Union. First of all, India enjoys very high economic growth, India is growing, it has a huge economic potential for bilateral, mutually beneficial cooperation for the future, that is why we have a well-established cooperation partnership. The second rationale is India is an important international partner -- very much respected and very influential. We are looking for partners all around the world with whom we share the same approach on global governance. India and EU are promoting rules based on the international order to multilateral approach. That is why we think we can make an impact on shaping or reshaping global political and economic governance. WION: How do you see the current economic environment in India, especially the ease of doing business? Kozlowski: According to the European economic community in India, and we have 6,000 EU companies, EU is the largest trading partner. Europe is one of the largest foreign investors in India and provider of technology. According to our business community, the business environment has improved substantially in the last few years. Of course, the situation might be better in the future. The fact the business environment is better is reflected in the 'ease of doing business' ranking in which India stands 77th. WION: The India-EU Free trade agreement has been stuck for 10 years with no progress, any comments? Kozlowski: Concerning EU India trade ties, EU is the largest trading partner for India. we have here the presence of European companies. EU is fully committed to having a comprehensive, economically meaningful, mutually beneficial agreement and we are in the process of discussing, very actively, the way forward for a possible FTA. WION: Connectivity is the new geopolitical currency. Your reaction to India connecting EU through Chabahar? Kozlowski: EU is in favour and support of all connectivity initiatives between India and EU. A few months ago, EU approved its own strategy on connectivity. We are in favour of India's efforts to rebuild or develop Chabahar port as an entry point to Afghanistan, further to central Asia and even to Europe. We are very much in favour. WION: Your take on the privacy debate in India and EU? Any comments on India's data localisation plans? Kozlowski: Privacy is an important right for the citizens of India and for the European Union. EU approved its own regulations which are known as GDPR. As I understand, India is working on its own privacy law. With respect to data location, we don't share India's sentiment to such a solution. We think such steps may be a burden for the free flow of business data between India and its partners. WION: Your reaction to the Brexit development that is taking place and Brexit's impact on India-EU ties? Kozlowski: Brexit is a very unfortunate development but we respect the decision taken by the British people which are now followed by the British government. From the point of view of EU, we are prepared for signing an agreement with the UK in coming days on the Brexit and it will not impact EU-India relations. We are committed to honouring all our agreement in developing cooperation.

EU envoy welcomes India's move to develop Chabahar

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-midterms-democrats-scent-victory-over-trumps-republicans-in-congress-175944">US midterms: Democrats scent victory over Trump's Republicans in Congress</a>

Democrats began to scent a big night in the US midterm elections Tuesday with early results pointing to them seizing the House of Representatives from the Republicans in what would be a dramatic rebuke to President Donald Trump.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/democrats-snatch-first-congress-seats-from-republicans-in-us-midterms-175929">Democrats snatch first Congress seats from Republicans in US midterms</a>

Democrats seized their first two Republican-held seats of the US midterm elections Tuesday, networks projected, flipping House seats in Virginia and Florida seen as crucial to the opposition party's effort to regain a majority in the chamber.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-exempts-indian-backed-chabahar-port-in-iran-from-sanctions-175922">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-exempts-indian-backed-chabahar-port-in-iran-from-sanctions-175922"> exempts Indian-backed Chabahar port in Iran from sanctions</a>

The United States said Tuesday it would exempt Iran's Indian-backed port of Chabahar from new sanctions on Tehran, recognizing the value of the project to Afghanistan.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/vice-president-mike-pences-brother-greg-elected-to-us-congress-175932">Vice-President Mike Pence's older brother Greg elected to US Congress</a>

Greg Pence, the older brother of US Vice President Mike Pence, won a seat in the US House of Representatives on Tuesday soon after polls began closing in the midterm elections. &nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/metoo-brexit-environment-inspire-new-dictionary-entries-175923">Metoo</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/metoo-brexit-environment-inspire-new-dictionary-entries-175923">, Brexit are now in the dictionary, 'single-use' is </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/metoo-brexit-environment-inspire-new-dictionary-entries-175923">word</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/metoo-brexit-environment-inspire-new-dictionary-entries-175923"> of the year</a>

"Single-use" was named the Collins Dictionary word of the year on Wednesday, following a four-fold increase in usage since 2013 in a reflection of increased concerns about sustainability.

US midterms: Democrats scent victory over Trump's Republicans in Congress Democrats began to scent a big night in the US midterm elections Tuesday with early results pointing to them seizing the House of Representatives from the Republicans in what would be a dramatic rebuke to President Donald Trump.

US midterms: Democrats scent victory over Trump's Republicans in Congress Democrats began to scent a big night in the US midterm elections Tuesday with early results pointing to them seizing the House of Representatives from the Republicans in what would be a dramatic rebuke to President Donald Trump. Democrats snatch first Congress seats from Republicans in US midterms Democrats seized their first two Republican-held seats of the US midterm elections Tuesday, networks projected, flipping House seats in Virginia and Florida seen as crucial to the opposition party's effort to regain a majority in the chamber. US exempts Indian-backed Chabahar port in Iran from sanctions The United States said Tuesday it would exempt Iran's Indian-backed port of Chabahar from new sanctions on Tehran, recognizing the value of the project to Afghanistan. Vice-President Mike Pence's older brother Greg elected to US Congress Greg Pence, the older brother of US Vice President Mike Pence, won a seat in the US House of Representatives on Tuesday soon after polls began closing in the midterm elections. Metoo, Brexit are now in the dictionary, 'single-use' is word of the year "Single-use" was named the Collins Dictionary word of the year on Wednesday, following a four-fold increase in usage since 2013 in a reflection of increased concerns about sustainability.

The United States said Tuesday it would exempt Iran's Indian-backed port of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/chabahar-port-developed-by-india-to-be-inaugurated-in-iran-today-25724">Chabahar from new sanctions</a> on Tehran, recognizing the value of the project to Afghanistan.

Iran late last year inaugurated the port on the Indian Ocean which provides a key supply route to landlocked Afghanistan and allows India to bypass its historic enemy Pakistan.

The United States will <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-sanctions-on-iran-threaten-vital-afghanistan-trade-project-138341">exempt from sanctions</a> the development of Chabahar along with an attached railway project and Iranian petroleum shipments into Afghanistan, the State Department said.

President Donald Trump's "South Asia strategy underscores our ongoing support of Afghanistan's economic growth and development as well as our close partnership with India," a State Department spokesperson said.

"This exception relates to reconstruction assistance and economic development for Afghanistan. These activities are vital for the ongoing support of Afghanistan's growth and humanitarian relief," the spokesperson said.

The United States, which has been building closer relations with New Delhi since the late 1990s, earlier exempted India from sanctions that took effect on Monday.

The Trump administration has vowed to exert maximum pressure on Iran to end its support for regional proxies, exiting a denuclearization agreement that brought sanctions relief.

Trump's decision has been opposed by European powers as well as other nations including India, which has largely warm relations with Iran and accuses Pakistan of fomenting attacks on its soil.

India has poured US $2 billion into Afghanistan since the 2001 US-led overthrow of the extremist Taliban regime, which was also opposed by Iran.

India has seen Chabahar as a key way both to send supplies to Afghanistan and to step up trade with Central Asia as well as Africa.

Iran has plans to link the port by railway to Zahedan on the Pakistani border up to Mashhad in the northeast.

The United States said Tuesday it would exempt Iran's Indian-backed port of Chabahar from new sanctions on Tehran, recognizing the value of the project to Afghanistan.

The United States said Tuesday it would exempt Iran's Indian-backed port of Chabahar from new sanctions on Tehran, recognizing the value of the project to Afghanistan. Iran late last year inaugurated the port on the Indian Ocean which provides a key supply route to landlocked Afghanistan and allows India to bypass its historic enemy Pakistan. The United States will exempt from sanctions the development of Chabahar along with an attached railway project and Iranian petroleum shipments into Afghanistan, the State Department said. President Donald Trump's "South Asia strategy underscores our ongoing support of Afghanistan's economic growth and development as well as our close partnership with India," a State Department spokesperson said. "This exception relates to reconstruction assistance and economic development for Afghanistan. These activities are vital for the ongoing support of Afghanistan's growth and humanitarian relief," the spokesperson said. The United States, which has been building closer relations with New Delhi since the late 1990s, earlier exempted India from sanctions that took effect on Monday. The Trump administration has vowed to exert maximum pressure on Iran to end its support for regional proxies, exiting a denuclearization agreement that brought sanctions relief. Trump's decision has been opposed by European powers as well as other nations including India, which has largely warm relations with Iran and accuses Pakistan of fomenting attacks on its soil. India has poured US $2 billion into Afghanistan since the 2001 US-led overthrow of the extremist Taliban regime, which was also opposed by Iran. India has seen Chabahar as a key way both to send supplies to Afghanistan and to step up trade with Central Asia as well as Africa. Iran has plans to link the port by railway to Zahedan on the Pakistani border up to Mashhad in the northeast.

US exempts Indian-backed Chabahar port in Iran from sanctions

Amid speculations that US sanctions on Iran may impact India's energy and connectivity plans, Iran has said that it has got assurances from India that it won't cut oil imports from the country.

Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif said, "Our Indian friends have always been categorical in terms of there intention to continue economic cooperation and import of oil from Iran. Heard the same statement from my counterpart."&nbsp;India is the 2nd largest buyer of oil from Iran.

Iran's FM had met India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly or UNGA meet in New York.

Calling Iran as a reliable source of energy, Zarif said, "We have comprehensive cooperation with India including energy cooperation."

In a media briefing later, Ministry of external affair's spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "India remains engaged with all stakeholders who are a part of the process, Iran is one of them. So it was natural the issue of sanctions did come up during the meeting. We shared each others' position about where we stand at this point in time".

India has been talking to the US on the issue and has sensitized Washington of it sensitivities &amp; expectations.

The issue was also raised during the recent 2+2 dialogue between the Foreign Ministers and Defence ministers of the 2 countries in Delhi.

The US sanctions that kick off on November 5&nbsp;could not only impact India's oil import from the west Asian country but could also impact crucial Chabahar port that links India with Afghanistan and rest of the central Asian countries.

Chabahar is a crucial link between north-south transport corridor that links Mumbai with Moscow and India's answer to Gwadar port in Pakistan which is part of China Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Lauding the "good cooperation" in shipping and transportation, India and Iran have Zarif said "Indian presence in Chabahar is very important" and hoped 
"India and other investors would come to Chabahar and invest for expansion of the port facility." Indian shipments to Afghanistan have already gone through Chabahar.

But US president Donald Trump plans to continue pressuring Iran. At his United Nations general assembly speech, he said, "we’re working with countries that import Iranian crude oil to cut their purchases substantially." He also said that more sanction will be slapped on Tehran soon.

When asked about the speech made by US president on Iran at the United Nations security council, Iranian FM quipped, it was a "theatre which didn't show success but showed isolation" of US.

Interestingly on September 26, India's national security advisor Ajit Doval travelled to Tehran to take part in an NSA Meet in which National Security Council/Deputy Minister of Security from Afghanistan, China, Iran and Russia were also present.

Amid speculations that US sanctions on Iran may impact India's energy and connectivity plans, Iran has said that it has got assurances from India that it won't cut oil imports from the country.

Amid speculations that US sanctions on Iran may impact India's energy and connectivity plans, Iran has said that it has got assurances from India that it won't cut oil imports from the country. Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif said, "Our Indian friends have always been categorical in terms of there intention to continue economic cooperation and import of oil from Iran. Heard the same statement from my counterpart." India is the 2nd largest buyer of oil from Iran. Iran's FM had met India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly or UNGA meet in New York. Calling Iran as a reliable source of energy, Zarif said, "We have comprehensive cooperation with India including energy cooperation." In a media briefing later, Ministry of external affair's spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "India remains engaged with all stakeholders who are a part of the process, Iran is one of them. So it was natural the issue of sanctions did come up during the meeting. We shared each others' position about where we stand at this point in time". India has been talking to the US on the issue and has sensitized Washington of it sensitivities & expectations. The issue was also raised during the recent 2+2 dialogue between the Foreign Ministers and Defence ministers of the 2 countries in Delhi. The US sanctions that kick off on November 5 could not only impact India's oil import from the west Asian country but could also impact crucial Chabahar port that links India with Afghanistan and rest of the central Asian countries. Chabahar is a crucial link between north-south transport corridor that links Mumbai with Moscow and India's answer to Gwadar port in Pakistan which is part of China Pakistan Economic Corridor. Lauding the "good cooperation" in shipping and transportation, India and Iran have Zarif said "Indian presence in Chabahar is very important" and hoped "India and other investors would come to Chabahar and invest for expansion of the port facility." Indian shipments to Afghanistan have already gone through Chabahar. But US president Donald Trump plans to continue pressuring Iran. At his United Nations general assembly speech, he said, "we’re working with countries that import Iranian crude oil to cut their purchases substantially." He also said that more sanction will be slapped on Tehran soon. When asked about the speech made by US president on Iran at the United Nations security council, Iranian FM quipped, it was a "theatre which didn't show success but showed isolation" of US. Interestingly on September 26, India's national security advisor Ajit Doval travelled to Tehran to take part in an NSA Meet in which National Security Council/Deputy Minister of Security from Afghanistan, China, Iran and Russia were also present.

India won't cut oil import from Iran: Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif

Afghanistan on Friday said it welcomed joint development ventures by India and China in the country which were announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping last week.

Shaida Abdali, the Afghan envoy to India, also said the Chabahar port in Iran "is open for everyone".&nbsp

In March, Iran had invited Pakistan to participate in the Chabahar project.&nbsp

India has played a crucial role in building of the port which is being used by India to transport goods to Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan. It has also been envisaged as an alternate route to reach the Central Asian market.&nbsp

"We fully welcome and support the joint ventures in Afghanistan by India and China to ensure that we have regional support for stability, peace and development. We look forward to it," Abdali said.

This, he said, would lead all neighbours of Afghanistan to support regional economic projects in the war-torn country.

In an informal summit between Modi and Xi held at Wuhan last week, the two countries agreed to work jointly on an economic project in Afghanistan, a development that can be expected to discomfit Pakistan that has worked strenuously to exclude India from a region it considers its strategic backyard.&nbsp

"Unfortunatley, Afghanistan is affected by issues that are in the region between neighbours. We really want tensions to be finished. We hope all, including Pakistan, will support such initiatives because the resolve of this initiative would be peace and stability," he said.

Abdali was responding to a question at an event organised by the Foreign Correspondent's Club.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif had invited Pakistan to participate in Chabahar seaport project and development of its link with Gwadar Port.

When asked about Iran's move, Abdali said, "That is what we look at regional initiatives. That means Chabahar port is open for everyone but with sincerity to come and invest in Chabahar and look at it as a regional hub and not as a threat to anything else."&nbsp

He noted that the Chabahar project had helped Afghanistan diversify its trade links with India.&nbsp

India and Afghanistan started an air-corridor last year that gave better Kabul a better access to Indian markets.&nbsp

Abdali said the air corridor was doing very well and after Mumbai and Delhi, there were plans to have direct air-connectivity to Amritsar and Hyderabad.

The trade volume between India and Afghanistan is nearly USD 2 billion.

The major thrust of the event was a terror strike in Kabul that killed 11 journalists.&nbsp

Abdali described it as the "bloodiest year for journalists" and the message behind the attack was to "shut down voice of justice, equality".

The Ministry of External Affairs also sent its representative to the event, as a mark of solidarity.

Shaida Abdali, the Afghan envoy to India, also said the Chabahar port in Iran 'is open for everyone'

Afghanistan on Friday said it welcomed joint development ventures by India and China in the country which were announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping last week. Shaida Abdali, the Afghan envoy to India, also said the Chabahar port in Iran "is open for everyone". In March, Iran had invited Pakistan to participate in the Chabahar project. India has played a crucial role in building of the port which is being used by India to transport goods to Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan. It has also been envisaged as an alternate route to reach the Central Asian market. "We fully welcome and support the joint ventures in Afghanistan by India and China to ensure that we have regional support for stability, peace and development. We look forward to it," Abdali said. This, he said, would lead all neighbours of Afghanistan to support regional economic projects in the war-torn country. In an informal summit between Modi and Xi held at Wuhan last week, the two countries agreed to work jointly on an economic project in Afghanistan, a development that can be expected to discomfit Pakistan that has worked strenuously to exclude India from a region it considers its strategic backyard. "Unfortunatley, Afghanistan is affected by issues that are in the region between neighbours. We really want tensions to be finished. We hope all, including Pakistan, will support such initiatives because the resolve of this initiative would be peace and stability," he said. Abdali was responding to a question at an event organised by the Foreign Correspondent's Club. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif had invited Pakistan to participate in Chabahar seaport project and development of its link with Gwadar Port. When asked about Iran's move, Abdali said, "That is what we look at regional initiatives. That means Chabahar port is open for everyone but with sincerity to come and invest in Chabahar and look at it as a regional hub and not as a threat to anything else." He noted that the Chabahar project had helped Afghanistan diversify its trade links with India. India and Afghanistan started an air-corridor last year that gave better Kabul a better access to Indian markets. Abdali said the air corridor was doing very well and after Mumbai and Delhi, there were plans to have direct air-connectivity to Amritsar and Hyderabad. The trade volume between India and Afghanistan is nearly USD 2 billion. The major thrust of the event was a terror strike in Kabul that killed 11 journalists. Abdali described it as the "bloodiest year for journalists" and the message behind the attack was to "shut down voice of justice, equality". The Ministry of External Affairs also sent its representative to the event, as a mark of solidarity.

Afghanistan welcomes joint development ventures by India, China

The recently concluded visit by Iranian President Rouhani to India was full of optics: his visit to the Qutub Shahi mosque at Hyderabad, then his address at the ORF (Delhi based think tank) hit all the right notes but if we look at the joint communique released at the end of the &ldquo;substantive&rdquo; talks we find that the visit accomplished less than what was being promised from both the sides.&nbsp;

The joint statement has laid stress on &ldquo;connectivity&rdquo;. It seems that the bilateral relations revolve around the port project and the subsequent advantages it will have not only for Afghanistan but to larger Central Asian Region. India has invested a lot of capital and now wants to benefit from the project, not only in terms of trade but also strategically. But if we closely follow the developments w.r.t. Chabahar, we find that the pace of development is sluggish. The port is only partially operational. India has been trying to develop the port as its answer to Gwadar and China&rsquo;s Belt and Road initiative in the region by providing an alternate route for trade and commerce with Central Asia and Afghanistan. India&rsquo;s biggest weakness lies not in striking of agreements and deals, but in follow-up and execution of those deals and projects. There are a large number of irritants which have repeatedly stalled the project.

The biggest irritant has been funding as well as the role international sanctions have played throughout this whole process. Despite our commitment to the project and its eventual realisation, India has been apprehensive about the US and its response to JCPOA; and its eventual impact on our investments in Iran. We have ignored the fact that French and German firms have made large investments and have been trying to court maximum areas for their benefit as Iran opens up its economy for international investment. The whole purpose of the visit was to enhance bilateral trade ties and the visit appears to have come short on the promise.&nbsp;

India has also not yet allowed Iranian banks to open their branches in India. However, in a welcome move, investment in Iran in Rupee terms has been allowed. The Indian investments in Rupees will get converted into Iranian Rial through banking mechanism allowing investments from here, including in the Chabahar Port complex. 
&nbsp; 
The visit further failed to address the pending issue of ensuring Indian investments in the Farzad-B gas field. It was announced that India and Iran need to move away from the traditional buyer-seller relationship when it comes to the energy sector but no measure to finish decade-old negotiations on Farzad gas field has been announced. Instead, we hear that the pace of negotiations needs to be increased for enhanced energy cooperation. The delay in completion of Chabahar project, the roadblock over Farzad-B gas block should not be allowed to act as hindrances in the development of bilateral ties. 
&nbsp; 
Although, the visit did achieve few things; the finalisation of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement is welcomed as a step that would promote business environment but both sides need to work on lowering bilateral trade tariffs: negotiations on Preferential Trade Agreement as well as conclusion of Bilateral Investment Treaty in a fixed time frame need to be accomplished.&nbsp;

The unanimity of thought on the security front was also witnessed. Both the countries have a common stance on confronting terrorism and extremism, and are determined to confront terrorism and extremism through cultural interaction and the exchange of information and experience.&nbsp;

The outcome from the visit is debatable but it cannot be denied that progress in the right direction has been made, however, the journey is far from over and we have a long way to go to accomplish our strategic goals in the region.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The whole purpose of the visit was to enhance bilateral trade ties but President Rouhani's visit appears to have come short on the promise.

The recently concluded visit by Iranian President Rouhani to India was full of optics: his visit to the Qutub Shahi mosque at Hyderabad, then his address at the ORF (Delhi based think tank) hit all the right notes but if we look at the joint communique released at the end of the “substantive” talks we find that the visit accomplished less than what was being promised from both the sides. The joint statement has laid stress on “connectivity”. It seems that the bilateral relations revolve around the port project and the subsequent advantages it will have not only for Afghanistan but to larger Central Asian Region. India has invested a lot of capital and now wants to benefit from the project, not only in terms of trade but also strategically. But if we closely follow the developments w.r.t. Chabahar, we find that the pace of development is sluggish. The port is only partially operational. India has been trying to develop the port as its answer to Gwadar and China’s Belt and Road initiative in the region by providing an alternate route for trade and commerce with Central Asia and Afghanistan. India’s biggest weakness lies not in striking of agreements and deals, but in follow-up and execution of those deals and projects. There are a large number of irritants which have repeatedly stalled the project. The biggest irritant has been funding as well as the role international sanctions have played throughout this whole process. Despite our commitment to the project and its eventual realisation, India has been apprehensive about the US and its response to JCPOA; and its eventual impact on our investments in Iran. We have ignored the fact that French and German firms have made large investments and have been trying to court maximum areas for their benefit as Iran opens up its economy for international investment. The whole purpose of the visit was to enhance bilateral trade ties and the visit appears to have come short on the promise. India has also not yet allowed Iranian banks to open their branches in India. However, in a welcome move, investment in Iran in Rupee terms has been allowed. The Indian investments in Rupees will get converted into Iranian Rial through banking mechanism allowing investments from here, including in the Chabahar Port complex. The visit further failed to address the pending issue of ensuring Indian investments in the Farzad-B gas field. It was announced that India and Iran need to move away from the traditional buyer-seller relationship when it comes to the energy sector but no measure to finish decade-old negotiations on Farzad gas field has been announced. Instead, we hear that the pace of negotiations needs to be increased for enhanced energy cooperation. The delay in completion of Chabahar project, the roadblock over Farzad-B gas block should not be allowed to act as hindrances in the development of bilateral ties. Although, the visit did achieve few things; the finalisation of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement is welcomed as a step that would promote business environment but both sides need to work on lowering bilateral trade tariffs: negotiations on Preferential Trade Agreement as well as conclusion of Bilateral Investment Treaty in a fixed time frame need to be accomplished. The unanimity of thought on the security front was also witnessed. Both the countries have a common stance on confronting terrorism and extremism, and are determined to confront terrorism and extremism through cultural interaction and the exchange of information and experience. The outcome from the visit is debatable but it cannot be denied that progress in the right direction has been made, however, the journey is far from over and we have a long way to go to accomplish our strategic goals in the region. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Iranian President Rouhani came but offered little to India

President Rouhani&rsquo;s maiden visit to India can be perceived as a response to India&rsquo;s West Asia overreach under the present Indian dispensation. The visit comes at a time when Indian government has been actively reaching out to various regional players trying to bolster bilateral ties and economic cooperation. The West Asian region hosts about 7 million expatriate Indians, and is a source of valuable foreign remittances and energy for India. The region also carries strategic significance for India.

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The Iranian president&rsquo;s visit comes in the backdrop of the emergence of new fault lines in the region with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and others like Bahrain and Kuwait seen ranged against Iran&mdash;in tandem with Israel. For India, Israel is a key partner in its counter-terrorism initiatives as well as its efforts to attract innovation and sophisticated technology to boost manufacturing. Countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are crucial sources of energy for India, providing counter-terror cooperation and who also host a large number of expatriate Indians.&nbsp;

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According to the MEA officials, during the course of the visit, deliberations are likely to be held on the &ldquo;progress achieved in bilateral relations and also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.&quot; In addition, discussions on &quot;the latest regional and global developments and the finalisation and exploitation of Chabahar port as soon as possible,&quot; are also expected to take place.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

President Rouhani is coming with a big business agenda to expand economic ties with India. A delegation from the National Iranian Oil Company is expected to hold talks with Indian authorities to see whether a pact could be reached on developing Iran&rsquo;s Farzad-B gas field. Incidentally, Iran has been shifting the goalposts since 2007 when the first round of talks began. But things are different now.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;Iran has been trying to reach a better bargain with India after crippling economic sanctions against it were eased following the signing of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or nuclear deal with six world powers&mdash;the US, UK, Russia, France, China, and Germany. Iran also wants to expedite the whole process as they are apprehensive of present US administrations and their commitment to the nuclear deal.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

There are some major irritants as well as opportunities for both the countries. India and Iran have strong economic and commercial ties covering many sectors though it has traditionally been dominated by the import of Iranian crude oil by India, which India continued with even at the time of sanctions. According to MEA, bilateral trade with Iran in 2017-18 stood at USD 12.89 billion, with India importing USD 10.5 billion worth of goods, mainly crude oil, and exporting commodities worth USD 2.4 billion.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

When the sanctions were lifted, India announced that its firms could spend as much as USD 20 billion on not just the port but also petrochemical plants, railway lines and other industries in the areas. But progress has only been made on the port. India has committed USD 85 million in investment for the development of the Shahid Beheshti Port in Chabahar. To show its commitment to the port project India signed the Trilateral Transit Agreement (Chabahar Agreement) between India, Iran and Afghanistan when PM Modi visited Tehran in May 2016. India recently became a signatory to the Ashgabat Agreement and wants to utilise the port to its full potential. The port opens a new strategic transit route between Iran, India, Afghanistan and other Central Asian nations bypassing Pakistan.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The visit is significant for both the nations, especially for Iran. President Rouhani has been facing growing discontent domestically over the falling promises and a brighter future which was shown to the people of Iran when the nuclear deal was signed. The people of Iran have been demanding greater personal freedoms and more opportunities for quite some time. According to estimates, nearly 60 percent of Iran&#39;s population of 82 million is under the age of 35, and nearly 70 per cent of Iranians were not yet born when the Islamic republic was established in 1979.

&nbsp;

Iran had hoped for swift reintegration into the global trade after the easing of sanctions in 2016 but its failure to persuade Western banks to accept Iranian business has been the main roadblock to rehabilitation. For instance, India plans to equip and operate two berths at Chabahar port with a capital investment of USD 85.21 million on a 10-year lease. But the uncertainty over U.S. policies has cast a shadow over the project. India is struggling to get equipment such as cranes for the port because Western banks were not ready to facilitate transactions.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp; &nbsp;

President Rouhani is coming with a big business agenda to expand economic ties with India

President Rouhani’s maiden visit to India can be perceived as a response to India’s West Asia overreach under the present Indian dispensation. The visit comes at a time when Indian government has been actively reaching out to various regional players trying to bolster bilateral ties and economic cooperation. The West Asian region hosts about 7 million expatriate Indians, and is a source of valuable foreign remittances and energy for India. The region also carries strategic significance for India. The Iranian president’s visit comes in the backdrop of the emergence of new fault lines in the region with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and others like Bahrain and Kuwait seen ranged against Iran—in tandem with Israel. For India, Israel is a key partner in its counter-terrorism initiatives as well as its efforts to attract innovation and sophisticated technology to boost manufacturing. Countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are crucial sources of energy for India, providing counter-terror cooperation and who also host a large number of expatriate Indians. According to the MEA officials, during the course of the visit, deliberations are likely to be held on the “progress achieved in bilateral relations and also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest." In addition, discussions on "the latest regional and global developments and the finalisation and exploitation of Chabahar port as soon as possible," are also expected to take place. President Rouhani is coming with a big business agenda to expand economic ties with India. A delegation from the National Iranian Oil Company is expected to hold talks with Indian authorities to see whether a pact could be reached on developing Iran’s Farzad-B gas field. Incidentally, Iran has been shifting the goalposts since 2007 when the first round of talks began. But things are different now. Iran has been trying to reach a better bargain with India after crippling economic sanctions against it were eased following the signing of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or nuclear deal with six world powers—the US, UK, Russia, France, China, and Germany. Iran also wants to expedite the whole process as they are apprehensive of present US administrations and their commitment to the nuclear deal. There are some major irritants as well as opportunities for both the countries. India and Iran have strong economic and commercial ties covering many sectors though it has traditionally been dominated by the import of Iranian crude oil by India, which India continued with even at the time of sanctions. According to MEA, bilateral trade with Iran in 2017-18 stood at USD 12.89 billion, with India importing USD 10.5 billion worth of goods, mainly crude oil, and exporting commodities worth USD 2.4 billion. When the sanctions were lifted, India announced that its firms could spend as much as USD 20 billion on not just the port but also petrochemical plants, railway lines and other industries in the areas. But progress has only been made on the port. India has committed USD 85 million in investment for the development of the Shahid Beheshti Port in Chabahar. To show its commitment to the port project India signed the Trilateral Transit Agreement (Chabahar Agreement) between India, Iran and Afghanistan when PM Modi visited Tehran in May 2016. India recently became a signatory to the Ashgabat Agreement and wants to utilise the port to its full potential. The port opens a new strategic transit route between Iran, India, Afghanistan and other Central Asian nations bypassing Pakistan. The visit is significant for both the nations, especially for Iran. President Rouhani has been facing growing discontent domestically over the falling promises and a brighter future which was shown to the people of Iran when the nuclear deal was signed. The people of Iran have been demanding greater personal freedoms and more opportunities for quite some time. According to estimates, nearly 60 percent of Iran's population of 82 million is under the age of 35, and nearly 70 per cent of Iranians were not yet born when the Islamic republic was established in 1979. Iran had hoped for swift reintegration into the global trade after the easing of sanctions in 2016 but its failure to persuade Western banks to accept Iranian business has been the main roadblock to rehabilitation. For instance, India plans to equip and operate two berths at Chabahar port with a capital investment of USD 85.21 million on a 10-year lease. But the uncertainty over U.S. policies has cast a shadow over the project. India is struggling to get equipment such as cranes for the port because Western banks were not ready to facilitate transactions. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Why Iranian President Rouhani's visit is important for PM Modi

US President Donald Trump&#39;s recent outburst on Pakistan will further boost economic and defence ties between Beijing and Islamabad, including China acquiring a Pakistani military base close to Iran&#39;s Chabahar port, an official media report said on Friday.

Trump&#39;s January 1 Twitter attack against Pakistan where he accused it of providing safe havens to terrorists appears to be helping boost already close ties between Pakistan and China, a report in the state-run Global Times said.

It attributed Islamabad&#39;s decision to allow Chinese currency in bilateral trade and financing transactions as China has stepped up its investments in the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The report quoted a &#39;Washington Times&#39; report that China is in talks with Pakistan to build its second overseas military base as part of a push for greater maritime capabilities along strategic sea routes.

The facility could be built at Jiwani, a port near Iran&#39;s Chabahar close to the border in the Gulf of Oman, and is located a short distance from Gwadar in Balochistan province which is currently being developed b Chabahar port being jointly developed by Iran, India and Afghanistan&nbsp;to ensure a trade corridor for Indian exports to Afghanistan.

On China establishing a military base at Jiwani, a South Asian studies expert said, &quot;both Beijing and Islamabad have the ability to build a joint naval and air facility in Pakistan, but it is unnecessary at this time&quot;.

China has established its &quot;first overseas military base in Djibouti&quot;, in the Horn of Africa in the Indian Ocean. However, China officially states that it is only a logistics base to service its naval personnel deployed for anti-piracy operations.

Besides Djibouti, China has also acquired the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka on a 99-year lease.

US President Donald Trump's recent outburst on Pakistan will further boost economic and defence ties between Beijing and Islamabad, including China acquiring a Pakistani military base close to Iran's Chabahar port, an official media report said on Friday

US President Donald Trump's recent outburst on Pakistan will further boost economic and defence ties between Beijing and Islamabad, including China acquiring a Pakistani military base close to Iran's Chabahar port, an official media report said on Friday. Trump's January 1 Twitter attack against Pakistan where he accused it of providing safe havens to terrorists appears to be helping boost already close ties between Pakistan and China, a report in the state-run Global Times said. It attributed Islamabad's decision to allow Chinese currency in bilateral trade and financing transactions as China has stepped up its investments in the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The report quoted a 'Washington Times' report that China is in talks with Pakistan to build its second overseas military base as part of a push for greater maritime capabilities along strategic sea routes. The facility could be built at Jiwani, a port near Iran's Chabahar close to the border in the Gulf of Oman, and is located a short distance from Gwadar in Balochistan province which is currently being developed b Chabahar port being jointly developed by Iran, India and Afghanistan to ensure a trade corridor for Indian exports to Afghanistan. On China establishing a military base at Jiwani, a South Asian studies expert said, "both Beijing and Islamabad have the ability to build a joint naval and air facility in Pakistan, but it is unnecessary at this time". China has established its "first overseas military base in Djibouti", in the Horn of Africa in the Indian Ocean. However, China officially states that it is only a logistics base to service its naval personnel deployed for anti-piracy operations. Besides Djibouti, China has also acquired the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka on a 99-year lease.

Donald Trump's pressure on Pakistan may push it closer to China: Report

President Xi Jinping&rsquo;s position before and after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has a very little direct impact on India. Notwithstanding Xi&#39;s boastful speeches to his captive audience&nbsp;at the conference, there is not much change in the stance and drivers steering China &ndash; India relations.

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<h5>India is unlikely to join&nbsp;BRI or CPEC, even if he has included it in the Chinese constitution.</h5>
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Evidently, there is no appreciable change in the areas of convergence and divergence in the national interest of two countries. India is unlikely to join&nbsp;Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) or China&ndash;Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) even if Xi has included these in the Chinese constitution. These initiatives are seen as no worth to India and clearly as violating Indian sovereignty.

Rather, indirect factors may cause a major difference for India. For instance, some of our common neighbours may give in to the more aggressive &lsquo;Purse diplomacy&rsquo; of China or may even get coerced into accepting it. Maldives signing free-trade agreement (FTA) with China, land grabbing efforts of China in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan are few such examples affecting Indian security adversely, which India needs to work on.

With a greater possibility of facing an aggressive, unchecked Xi Jinping, India needs to work on enhancing hard as well as soft power. China&rsquo;s strategic leveraging of water sources by diverting it or flooding it (being upper riparian country) is a new threat to South Asia, which India needs to be prepared for.

When President Trump indicated his enthusiasm to work with India to improve capabilities of Indian military on the sidelines of the&nbsp;ASEAN summit, it has some positive message for India, because no nation has ever become a recognisable power in global history without a strong military. Besides ongoing efforts to strengthen Indian military, we also need to increase the pace of infrastructure development on the borders and Northeastern region.

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<h5>India is better located to be the hub of global sea lanes with lesser choke points.</h5>
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On the diplomatic side, we need to not only &lsquo;Act East&rsquo; but &lsquo;Act West&rsquo; also. India is better located to be the hub of global sea lanes with lesser choke points on either side, and is working towards this capability to provide an alternate model of global connectivity like Asia- Africa Growth Corridor connecting further West.

The inauguration of Chabahar port in Iran, with an opportunity to connect with Afghanistan, CAR, and further West carries the message that determined nations will find its way even if blocked by adversarial designs. If India could stand up to China to protect its strategic choices during Doklam episode, I am sure that it can do the same in future as well, on its own strength. Any leverage we derive from friendly countries/groupings/strategic partnerships/alliances should be treated as a bonus.

(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

If India could stand up to China to protect its strategic choices during Doklam issue then it can do the same in future as well, on its own strength

President Xi Jinping’s position before and after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has a very little direct impact on India. Notwithstanding Xi's boastful speeches to his captive audience at the conference, there is not much change in the stance and drivers steering China – India relations. India is unlikely to join BRI or CPEC, even if he has included it in the Chinese constitution. × Evidently, there is no appreciable change in the areas of convergence and divergence in the national interest of two countries. India is unlikely to join Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) or China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) even if Xi has included these in the Chinese constitution. These initiatives are seen as no worth to India and clearly as violating Indian sovereignty. Rather, indirect factors may cause a major difference for India. For instance, some of our common neighbours may give in to the more aggressive ‘Purse diplomacy’ of China or may even get coerced into accepting it. Maldives signing free-trade agreement (FTA) with China, land grabbing efforts of China in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan are few such examples affecting Indian security adversely, which India needs to work on. With a greater possibility of facing an aggressive, unchecked Xi Jinping, India needs to work on enhancing hard as well as soft power. China’s strategic leveraging of water sources by diverting it or flooding it (being upper riparian country) is a new threat to South Asia, which India needs to be prepared for. When President Trump indicated his enthusiasm to work with India to improve capabilities of Indian military on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit, it has some positive message for India, because no nation has ever become a recognisable power in global history without a strong military. Besides ongoing efforts to strengthen Indian military, we also need to increase the pace of infrastructure development on the borders and Northeastern region. India is better located to be the hub of global sea lanes with lesser choke points. × On the diplomatic side, we need to not only ‘Act East’ but ‘Act West’ also. India is better located to be the hub of global sea lanes with lesser choke points on either side, and is working towards this capability to provide an alternate model of global connectivity like Asia- Africa Growth Corridor connecting further West. The inauguration of Chabahar port in Iran, with an opportunity to connect with Afghanistan, CAR, and further West carries the message that determined nations will find its way even if blocked by adversarial designs. If India could stand up to China to protect its strategic choices during Doklam episode, I am sure that it can do the same in future as well, on its own strength. Any leverage we derive from friendly countries/groupings/strategic partnerships/alliances should be treated as a bonus. (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Opinion: What does Xi's autocratic position mean for India?

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