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In a shot in the arm for the Chabahar Port close on the heels of a pact that gave India 10 years management rights over the port, Taliban has welcomed the initiative and noted that the port will provide an alternative to Pakistan‘s Karachi Port. The Taliban led government also is exploring a special zone in the Chabahar Port for international trade.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, has said, “We are in favor of better economic relations with all countries, and the Chabahar port should be expanded. The more activity there is in Iran’s Chabahar port, the more economic stability in the region is strengthened, benefiting Afghanistan, and we support it.”
Mujahid in fact went on to say that Chabahar port is a transformative venture and will reduce Afghanistan’s dependence on the Karachi port indicating Kabul’s growing discomfort with Pakistan.
Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, has said, “Afghanistan-India trade in 2023 was worth $773 million, of which $579 million were exports and $200 million were imports.”
The Afghanistan Chamber of Industries and Mines also considered the current development of the Chabahar port beneficial for trade and transit activities among the countries in the region, especially Afghanistan and India.
Sakhi Ahmad Payman, the first deputy of the Chamber of Industries and Mines, has said, “If investment in the Chabahar port increases and develops, it gives Afghanistan the opportunity to both increase transit levels and revenue and to utilize an alternative route.”
Recently, the Afghan Ministry of Industry and Commerce announced the provision of land and the establishment of a special zone in Iran’s Chabahar port for the country’s traders, stating that this zone has facilitated export and import activities for Afghan traders.
Chabahar Port has also played a key role in India’s development sector outreach to Afghanistan.
