India, Iran, Afghanistan hold first trilateral meet on Chabahar in Tehran

The first trilateral meeting between India, Afghanistan and Iran of the Coordination Council of the Chabahar Agreement took place on October 22 in Tehran.

The Indian delegation was led by TS Tirumurti, Secretary (Economic Relations), while the Afghan and Iran delegations were led by respective Deputy Ministers of Transport.

"Detailed discussions were held between the three sides on full operationalisation of the trilateral agreement for international transit and transport through Chabahar Port," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a press release.

"All sides shared the view that full operationalisation of trilateral Chabahar initiative will promote connectivity and economic development of Afghanistan and the region," it added.

The MEA also said that the three nations have decided to constitute a follow-up committee that would hold its first meeting within two months in Chabahar Port, Iran.

"It would, inter alia, discuss and aim to finalise protocol to harmonise transit, roads, customs, consular matters that was shared by the Indian side at the meeting for making the route attractive, decrease logistic costs and pave way for smooth implementation of the Trilateral Chabahar Agreement," the statement said.

The next meeting of the Coordination Council will be held in the first half of 2019 in India.