India is actively engaging with key stakeholders to ensure the continued development of the Chabahar Port project. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted the importance of navigating the complexities posed by changing regulatory environments and ongoing regional conflicts in West Asia. These discussions aim to establish a sustainable future for the port, which is crucial for enhancing connectivity and trade in the region.
Addressing a press briefing following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bilateral meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek, Misri underlined the long-standing nature of India’s engagement and highlighted how external developments have impacted the regional cooperation framework. “As you are aware, we have been associated with this project over a long period of time. Beyond infrastructure ties, the Foreign Secretary shared details from the bilateral discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, noting that the Iranian leader expressed gratitude for New Delhi’s stance on regional stability. “Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian thanked India for our support for the various efforts that are out there to foster peace. He made the point that the continuation of the war is in no one’s interest and its prolongation doesn’t really benefit anybody. Given the fact that India has close civilizational, cultural, and people-to-people ties with Iran, he noted that India also has a role in supporting efforts toward peace,” Misri conveyed. Addressing India’s diplomatic intervention in the crisis, the Foreign Secretary emphasised that Prime Minister Modi has actively engaged regional and global leadership since tensions escalated. “The Prime Minister mentioned to him that we have added our voice, wherever feasible, to efforts to end the conflict. The Prime Minister has, in fact, been in touch with virtually every leader from the region several times during the course of this conflict since it started in late February, as well as leaders beyond the region, exchanging views with them,” Misri noted. Misri affirmed that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar remains in continuous contact with regional counterparts to explore opportunities to bring the conflict to a close.
But as you are also aware, the conflict that has broken out in West Asia over the last several months has also had an attendant impact on cooperation of various kinds between various countries in this region,” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said.
