Indian Official: Afghan Economy to Flourish by Investment in Iran's Chabahar Port

Indian Deputy National Security Advisor Rajinder Khanna said joint investment by Tehran and New Delhi in Chabahar port will be a major help to the flourishing and enhancement of Afghanistan's economy.

Khanna made the remarks in Tehran on Wednesday, addressing the second session of the Regional Security Dialogue with focus on Afghanistan.

He said that the peace talks in Afghanistan should focus on national law of the country and other countries should only have a facilitating role for intra-Afghan peace talks under the auspices of the Afghan Government.

Khanna said that campaign against drug trafficking and that thwarting the security threats are not possible without the active role of all the regional countries.

He added that in the process of Afghan peace talks, the parties sabotaging constructive talks must be sidelined.

Tehran Security Dialogue was attended by top security officials of Iran, Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, China and India is to discuss the issues of Afghanistan and all-out fight against different types of terrorism.

The first session of the Regional Security Dialogue focused on coordination among regional countries to combat Takfiri terrorism last year.

Chabahar is a city in Southeastern Iran, on Gulf of Oman. A Free Trade and Economic Zone - FTEZ in Sistan and Balouchestan province on border with Pakistan.

Afghanistan procures 95 percent of its supplies through imports, and therefore, Chabahar port will be the least expensive route for transferring goods.

Various projects, including the second phase of development of Shahid Beheshti port, oil and petrochemical terminals, durable goods warehouse, open warehouse, terminal hall, passenger wharf, shipyard to build and offer maintenance services for ships, and petrochemical downstream industries are among the major investment opportunities in Chabahar.