Modi: Chabahar pact ‘opening of new chapter’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the media jointly with Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran on Monday, said, “The bilateral agreement to develop Chabahar port and related infrastructure, and availability of about $500 million from India for this purpose, is an important milestone.”

“This major effort would boost economic growth in the region. We are committed to take steps for early implementation of the agreements signed today,” he said.

The trilateral agreement on the transport and transit corridor, linked to the development of Chabahar port, was signed later by India, Iran and Afghanistan in the presence of Mr Modi, Mr Rouhani and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

Describing it as the “opening of a new chapter”, Mr Modi said, “Today we all are witnessing the creation of history, not just for the people of our three countries but the entire region. It will build bonds of connectivity.”

Underlining that the agreement was part of the endeavour to “carve out new routes for peace and prosperity” in the region, the PM expressed confidence that the corridor would “spur unhindered” economic growth and help stop radicalisation of the youth by providing job opportunities. “The arc of economic benefit will go beyond the three countries... Its reach can extend to Central Asian Countries. It can link South Asia on one end and Europe on the other,” he said. He asserted that the agreement “will strengthen our ability to stand in mutual support against those whose only motto is to maim and kill the innocent. Its success will be a positive vote for peace and stability in the region.”

Mr Rouhani, while describing the Chabahar agreement as a “spring” in the ties among the three countries, said it was “not agai-nst any country”, an appa-rent reference to Pakistan.

Mr Modi, while quoting Persian poet Hafez, spoke a few lines in Persian to say, “Days of separation are over; night of wait is coming to an end; our friendship will stay forever.”

Earlier, Mr Modi and Mr Rouhani held bilateral talks during which they discussed a wide range of issues of mutual concern. “We have agreed to consult closely and regularly on combating the threats of terrorism, radicalism, drug trafficking and cyber crime. We have also agreed to enhance interaction between our defence and security institutions on regional and maritime security,” the PM said.

Mr Rouhani said both nations have discussed the issue and agreed to share intelligence to combat terror “due to the importance of stability and security in the region, and especially in countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Yemen, and because a big problem called terrorism is running rife and rampant in the region.”

“The two countries discussed political issues as well and how they can cooperate on intelligence-sharing and how they can get closer to each other in the fight against terrorism and extremism, and how they can contribute to peace and stability in the whole region,” Mr Rouhani added.