Iran’s Chabahar port of vital importance for Afghanistan: Minister

EghtesadOnline: Afghanistan’s Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mahmoud Balighi said Iran’s Chabahar port was of prime importance for his country.

News ID: ۷۶۹۷۳۵

26 September 2016

In an exclusive interview with IRNA on Sunday, he said the port which is situated in southeast of Iran is of very vital significance for Afghanistan and regional trade.

He said the five-party railway is also important for Afghanistan as it passes through Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and China and then travels to Turkey thus connecting all these countries to Europe.

He said the railway which runs for 1,100 kms inside Afghanistan will further facilitate access of Afghan businessmen to Chabahar port.

He said the countries involved in the railway network have already signed an agreement to this effect.

Since Afghanistan is a landlocked territory, the minister added, the government is determined to use the railway networks to gain access to international waters.

That is why Iran’s Chabahar port is strategically very important for Afghanistan because the tri-lateral contract signed by Iran, Afghanistan and India will help boost trade exchanges, said the minister.