India, Tajikistan To Work On Trade Links Through Chabahar Port

India and Tajikistan will work closely on developing trade and transport links through the Chabahar Port in Iran, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday after the signing of agreements with the Central Asian nation on enhancing economic ties and curbing double taxation, money laundering and terrorism.

Modi stated that he and Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, have agreed to increase the "scope and scale of our economic engagement especially trade and investment traffic" between the two nations. He described Tajikistan "a valued friend and strategic partner" of India.

Pakistan has, time and again, refused to provide India access to Central Asia and Afghanistan for trade and commerce, forcing India to forge a deal with Kabul and Tehran on joint development of Charbhar port.

Chabhar, located in south-eastern Iran, will provide India unhindered rail and road access to Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries. If developed and operationalised to full capacity, experts believe, the Chabahar can render Pakistan’s Gwadar port obsolete.