Pakistan, Iran reach accord for better port connectivity

The possibility of better connectivity between Gwadar and Chabahar was explored during talks between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani who arrived here on Friday on his maiden two-day Pakistan visit. 

Significantly, last month the Indian government cleared proposals for development of the strategic Chabahar port. The Chabahar port would give India a sea-land access route to Afghanistan bypassing Pakistan. The agreement on India’s assistance for the port’s development was signed last year. 

Iranian President Rouhani said, during the talks, the two leaders took stock of the existing state of relations and how to enhance economic interaction. Rouhani said, during talks with Sharif, they explored the possibility of having closer relationship and better connectivity between Gwadar port in Pakistan’s Balochistan province and the Iranian port of Chabahar. 

Pakistan and Iran reaffirmed their resolve to enhance the level of bilateral cooperation in diverse fields, including trade, economy and energy, Sharif and Rouhani told reporters after their wide-ranging talks on Friday. Sharif said the two countries have decided to open two new border crossing points to encourage trade and economic activities.