PM Modi's Iran visit 2016

[Kshatriya87]

http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/game...da-as-as-pm-modi-visits-iran-10-facts-1408983

TEHRAN: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet Iran's top leaders including President Hassan Rouhani as he begins the operative part of his visit to the country. The centerpiece of his visit is the signing of a trilateral agreement on the Chabahar port, which will open up access to central Asia.
Here are the top 10 developments in this big story:

1. PM Modi is expected to meet the Iran President after a ceremonial welcome. He will also meet the country's supreme religious and political leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
2. Afghan president Ashraf Ghani is expected to join PM Modi and President Rouhani for the signing of the agreement on Chabahar, a strategic port in the Gulf of Oman on Iran's southern coast with Afghanistan.
3. India will help develop the port and invest in the first phase around $200 million to develop terminals and cargo berths at Chabahar. In the next phase, India plans to build a 500-km railway line between Chabahar and Zahedan.
4. With this, landlocked Afghanistan will get access to the Iranian port as an alternate to the Pakistani port of Karachi. It will also provide India with another route to into Afghanistan - with which it has developed close diplomatic and strategic ties. Now India does not have access to Afghanistan on a land route due to opposition from Pakistan.
5. India's move is also being seen as a balance to China's influence in Pakistan. Chabahar is 100 km from Pakistan's Gwadar port, which China is developing. The Chinese project comes on the heels of its investments in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Maldives.
6. PM Modi's visit -- the first by a Indian Prime Minister in 15 years -- comes four months after the sanctions on Iran were lifted and the international community is re-engaging with the nation.
7. After arriving in Tehran last evening, the PM tweeted in Persian, "Reached Iran, a land with whom India shares civilisational ties. Hope to enhance economic partnership between our nations."
8. On Sunday evening, PM Modi addressed the Indian community and visited a Gurdwara in Tehran.
9. "Starting this Iran visit with a visit to this Gurdwara... We Indians have this specialty. We accept everyone and assimilate with everyone," the Prime Minister said in his address to the expat Indians after visiting the Bhai Ganga Singh Sabha Gurdwara.
10. Before the visit, India has cleared part of its $6.4 billion oil dues to Iran. The bilateral talks will also feature Indian firms securing rights to develop the offshore Farzad-B gas field, which was discovered by ONGC Videsh.

 

[Chinmoy]

http://www.firstpost.com/business/c...rves-credit-for-signing-the-deal-2794106.html

Dear mods, merge if any existing thread is there.

 

[pmaitra]

Pakistani Media Reaction On INDIA PM Narendra Modi IRAN VISIT

 

[Kshatriya87]

India to invest $500 million to develop Chabahar Port to bypass Pakistan into Central Asia, Europe

http://www.dnaindia.com/money/repor...ass-pakistan-into-central-asia-europe-2215916

Bilateral agreements signed by India and iran includes one to set up an aluminium plant and for laying a railway line to give India the access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

A "milestone" pact on the strategic Chabahar Port in southern Iran which will give India access to Afghanistan and Europe bypassing Pakistan was among the agreements signed by India and Iran which also agreed to cooperate on combating radicalism and terror.

Besides the bilateral pact to develop the Chabahar port for which India will invest $500 million (Rs 3,326.7crore ), a trilateral Agreement on Transport and Transit Corridor was also signed by India, Afghanistan and Iran, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi said could "alter the course of the history of the region".

The bilateral agreements signed by India and Iran after detailed discussions between Modi and President Hassan Rouhani included one on setting up of an aluminium plant and another on laying a railway line to give India access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.


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The agreements, aimed at further deepening India-Iran ties in diverse fields, covered areas of economy, trade, transportation, port development, culture, science and academic cooperation.

The two countries noted with deep concern that terrorism and ideologies of violent extremism "continue to infest and ingress" the region and agreed to enhance regular consultations between National Security Councils and others concerned on terrorism, security and related issues such as organised crime, money-laundering, narcotics trade and cyber crime, said a India-Iran Joint Statement issued later.


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Modi's visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 15 years, comes months after the lifting of international sanctions on Iran following Tehran's historic nuclear deal with the Western powers over its contentious atomic programme.

Earlier, the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had visited the country in April 2001.


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India to invest billions of dollars in Chabahar free trade zone
The key agreement signed was a contract for development of Phase I of the Chabahar port on the southern coast of Iran by an Indian joint venture.

Chabahar port, located in the Sistan-Balochistan Province on the energy-rich Persian Gulf nation's southern coast, lies outside the Persian Gulf and is easily accessed from India's western coast, bypassing Pakistan.

"The bilateral agreement to develop the Chabahar port and related infrastructure and availability of about USD 500 million from India for this purpose is an important milestone," Modi said in joint media interaction with Rouhani.

"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 pact on Transport and Transit Corridor, linked to the Chabahar port development, was signed later by India, Iran and Afghanistan in the presence of Modi, Rouhani and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

Rouhani said each of the three countries will name a minister for follow-up action.

"They (leaders) look forward to early delineation of all necessary rules and procedures leading to operationalisation of the transport and transit routes within the timelines stipulated in the Agreement," the Joint Statement said.

Describing the signing of the trilateral corridor as "opening of a new chapter", Modi said, "today, we all are witnessing 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 Prime Minister expressed confidence that the corridor will "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 innocents. Its success will be a positive vote for peace and stability in the region." Rouhani, while describing the Chabahar agreement as a "spring" in the ties among the three countries, said it was "not against any country", an apparent reference to Pakistan.

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,

Modi and Rouhani, during bilateral talks, discussed a wide range of issues of mutual concern.

"We have agreed to consult closely and regularly on combating 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 Prime Minister said.

Terming terrorism as a "big problem running rife and rampant in the region", Rouhani said that both the nations have discussed the issue and agreed to share intelligence to combat the menace.

"Due to the importance of stability and security in the region and especially in the 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 about 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," Rouhani added.

 

[Mikesingh]

Here's what Chahbahar is all about in a nutshell....

Prime Minister Narendra Modi together with Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani and Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani sat together on Monday to sign a trilateral agreement to develop Chabahar port and turn it into a major transit point for a corridor linking Afghanistan on one side and Central Asia and Russia on another.
For starters, India will invest half a billion dollars to build more berths at Chabahar port and develop related infrastructure.

The eventual aim is to build a railway line into Afghanistan and another line to the Caspian Sea, which will form part of an ambitious North-South Corridor connecting the factories of Mumbai and Gujarat to markets in Central Asia, Russia and Eastern Europe. As a first step, the plan is to upgrade the 650-odd km road from Chabahar to the Iranian city of Zahedan. From here another 200-km highway, which is presently being improved, connects to the Afghan border town of Zaranj, from where the Indian government has already built a 218-km highway to Delaram on the Afghanistan Ring Road or Garland Highway.

India will invest $22 billion in setting up industries — ranging from aluminum smelter to urea plants — in the Chabahar free trade zone.

Together with its “all-weather” friend, Beijing, Islamabad has effectively blocked all overland Indian trade and transit to the rest of Asia. India has been forced to use costly and impractical routes to reach the heart of Asia and Asiatic Russia.

Now things will change. Chabahar is not just a matter of developing a port. President Ghani’s statement at the meet may well be prophetic: “Hundred years from now historians will remember this day as the start of regional cooperation. We wanted to prove that geography is not our destiny. With our will we can change geography.” For Iran too it is a strategic come together.

For, as President Rouhani pointed out: “The two countries discussed about 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.”

An Iranian newspaper noted that China is “trying to control the pulse of regional trade by making extensive investments in the Pakistani port of Gwadar”, and commented that India is “now positioned against its strong competitor by investing in the port”. India has been a bit of a tortoise in the Asian geopolitical game. But the Chabahar deal suggests that it is very much in the game and tomorrow’s chessboard could well be the cruel deserts of Balochistan.

The port would not only have a spiraling impact on regional trade and commerce but would also create tremendous employment opportunities and strengthen people-to-people connectivity in the region.

What of the CPEC? This project in Pakistan is by the Chinese, for the Chinese and of the Chinese. Pakistan is just a bit player in this project. The Chinese aim is to use the CPEC for logistics to supply its future naval base at Gwadar (which Pakistan has already handed over to the Chinese on a 40 year lease), which they plan to establish for dominating the Arabian Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.

With Chahbahar, its plan for domination will come a cropper. And that's the reason why they are sounding nervous as seen from the negative comments in their official media.

Hail to Indo-Iranian cooperation!

 

[Zebra]

http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=145573

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Prime Minister's Office

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23-May-2016 18:37 IST


Remarks by Prime Minister at Chabahar Connectivity event (May 23, 2016)

Your Excellency Dr. Hassan Rouhani, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran,

Your Excellency Dr. Ashraf Ghani, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Honourable Ministers

Ladies and Gentlemen

A famous poet of Persia, Hafez once said:

रोज़े- हिज्रो-शबे-फ़ुर्क़ते-यार आख़र शुद

ज़दम इन फ़ालो-गुज़श्त अख़्तरो कार आख़र शुद्

[Meaning: Days of separation are over; night of wait is coming to an end; Our friendship will stay forever.]

Today, we are all witnessing creation of history. Not just for the people of our three countries, but for the entire region. To build bonds of connectivity is the most basic of human urges. Today, we seek to fulfil it. We are grateful to Excellency Rouhani for hosting this unique event. Thank you President Ashraf Ghani, for your presence. It truly holds a special significance. It is a privilege to be here. Excellency Rouhani, President Ghani and I have just held detailed discussions on a range of issues. The agenda for economic engagement is a clear priority for us. We stand together in unity of our purpose. To carve out new routes of peace, and prosperity is our common goal. We want to link with the world. But, better connectivity among ourselves is also our priority. It is indeed a new dawn for the region.

Excellencies,

Iran, Afghanistan and India are deeply aware of the richness and reality of our ancient links. Through centuries, art and culture, ideas and knowledge, language and traditions have formed a common bond between us. Even through turmoil of history, our societies never lost touch with each other. Today, we meet to write new chapters in our engagement.

Excellencies, The Agreement on the establishment of a Trilateral Transport and Transit Corridor signed just a while ago can alter the course of history of this region. It is a new foundation of convergence between our three nations. The corridor would spur unhindered flow of commerce throughout the region. Inflow of capital and technology could lead to new industrial infrastructure in Chahbahar. This would include gas based fertilizer plants, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and IT. The key arteries of the corridor would pass through the Chahbahar port of Iran. It's very location, on the mouth of Gulf of Oman, is of great strategic significance. Afghanistan will get an assured, effective, and a more friendly route to trade with the rest of the world. The arc of economic benefit from this agreement would extend beyond our three nations. Its reach could extend to the depths of the Central Asian countries. When linked with the International North South Transport Corridor, it would touch South Asia at one end and Europe at another. And, studies show that as compared to the traditional sea routes, it could bring down the cost and time of the cargo trade to Europe by about 50%. Over time, we could even look to connect it with the strong sea and land based routes that India has developed with the Indian Ocean Region and South East Asia.

Excellencies,

The world of 21st century offers unique opportunities.But, it also poses its own set of challenges.Today, the nature of global engagement requires an attitude more suitable to this century, not the mindset of the century gone by. Today, the watch-words of international tiesare trust not suspicion; cooperation not dominance; inclusivity not exclusion. This is also the guiding philosophy and driving spirit of the Chahbahar Agreement. This will be a corridor of peace and prosperity for our peoples. Motives of economic growth, and empowerment would drive it. It will build our security without making others vulnerable. It would break barriers among our nations and encourage new benchmarks of people-to-people contacts. And, help us to eventually build what we all desire and deserve - a friendly and healthy neighbourhood.

Excellencies,

The world around us is changing in fundamental ways. And, the lack of comprehensive connectivity is not the only challenge that limits our national growth. Political turmoil and undercurrents of economic stress continue to spread in West Asia. In the Indo-Pacific,rise a mix of political competition and economic opportunities is putting pressure on the existing Asian order. Global economy is yet to fully come out of uncertainty and weakness. Our present growth and future prosperity is under threat from the spread of radical ideas and physical terror. Amidst this landscape, our three countries are blessed with the most potent resource—our youth. Our three nations are estimated to have more than 60 percent of their population under 30 years of age. They are an asset in our national and regional development. We want them to walk the road to knowledge and skills; industry and enterprise. And, not fall victim to the path of guns and violence. I am confident that economic fruits of the Chahbahar Agreement will expand trade, attract investment, build infrastructure, develop industry and create jobs for our youth. The Agreement will strengthen our ability to stand in mutual support against those whose only motto is to maim and kill the innocents. Its success will be a positive vote for peace and stability in the region.

Excellencies,

It is my strong belief that trade and transit routes should only be a starting point of our journey to greater connectivity. In my vision, the full spectrum of connectivity agenda between Iran, Afghanistan and India should span:

• from culture to commerce;

• from traditions to technology;

• from Investments to IT;

• from services to strategy; and

• from people to politics.

In a way, it is a pledge to:

• Realize the imperative of better connectivity;

• Establish peace and create stability;

• Build economic prosperity and engineer new trade ties;

• Curb radicalism and remove shadows of terror; and

• Break barriers and spread sweetness of familiarity among our people.

History will look back at this effort with nothing but approval and admiration.

I compliment Excellencies Rouhani and Ghani for their leadership in guiding this effort.

Thank you all. Thank you very much.

***

 

[Mikesingh]

How does PM Modi speak extempore for hours? What's his trick in remembering names, places, incidents from history and facts and figures without a bump?

Oh wait.....That's the reason why he's become the PM of the biggest democracy in the world on his own! :biggrin2:

 

[thenextdoor26]

Chabahar is never a match to Gawader all about Kabul it is still more then 600 km near to Gawader then to Chabahar and big ships can't approach Chabahar like Gawader


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[Kshatriya87]

Chabahar is never a match to Gawader all about Kabul it is still more then 600 km near to Gawader then to Chabahar and big ships can't approach Chabahar like Gawader


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So?
..................................................

 

[thenextdoor26]

So?
..................................................

Someone quoted that it can be a game changer

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[Kshatriya87]

Someone quoted that it can be a game changer

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Of course it can be and it will be. Imagine having a couple of destroyers or frigates at Chabahar. That effectively surrounds pakistani navy. It gives Indian navy an ability to launch missiles from the south western region (of pakistan) as well. Not to mention the import of gas and other commodities from Iran to India.

 

[thenextdoor26]

I think you underestimated Iranian love to their religion so ships on Iranian bay is not possible and just think whole Central Asia China and may be China connect Russia and some European countries all are connected to Gawader and on other hand just India is using Chabahar
I think your magnitude to game changer is very very small

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[AnantS]

Now India would be able to supply support to ANA from south against Paki sponsored Taliban & Paki sponsored Al Qaeda. Russia will lend support to ANA from North. More fun for Pakistan awaits.

 

[Kshatriya87]

I think you underestimated Iranian love to their religion so ships on Iranian bay is not possible and just think whole Central Asia China and may be China connect Russia and some European countries all are connected to Gawader and on other hand just India is using Chabahar
I think your magnitude to game changer is very very small

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abe yar...

Dude, if you want to debate, fine. Don't just post comments for the heck of it without knowing the history/reality and general knowledge.

Ships at Iranian bay not possible? Then what the hell is this?

Naval Ships on a Goodwill visit to Iran

Two Indian Naval Ships Visit Iran

Two Indian warships dock in southern Iran

Did I just burst your religious bubble?

 

[Kshatriya87]

This article comes from a Pakistani. But most of the pakistanis and pakistani media is trying hard to underplay the chabahar port.

Chabahar Port: A game-changing deal

SYED NOORUZZAMAN
June 28, 2016



India had been anxiously waiting for the opportunity that came its way when theUS, the UN and the European Union lifted in January this year most of their sanctions against Iran following a positive report by the International Atomic Energy Agency over Tehran’s controversial nuclear programme. New Delhi soon began negotiations with Tehran and in May, it reached a strategically significant agreement with the Persian Gulf nation to develop its Chabahar port and related infrastructure to bring it to a level when it can easily compete with Pakistan’s Gwadar port, located at a distance of just 72 km in Balochistan. Of course, India’s involvement in the Iranian project with a credit line of $500 million is not as big as that of China in Gwadar port, but the deal, signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Tehran, is considered a game-changing development in the region.

India has now got an assured and direct access to Afghanistan and Central Asia — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. The development is bound to push up India’s trade with these countries besides providing strategic advantages in Afghanistan. As the situation prevails now, Indiafigures very insignificantly on the list of countries doing trade with the Central Asian nations, though there is a huge potential to be tapped for both sides. These countries’ trade with India is hardly 1 per cent, though they are very rich in natural resources, particularly in oil and gas, required by India’s fast growing economy. But the supply route-related problems have been discouraging these nations to increase their trade with India. The situation is bound to change with India entering into the deal with Iran over Chabahar port. India’s role in Chabahar can provide a new momentum to the country’s economic march.

The Chabahar deal, no doubt, is a major achievement of the Modi government. Besides the advantages that it will bring from Central Asia, it will help India consolidate its gains in Afghanistan, where New Delhi has been investing considerably in various fields to rebuild that war-torn country. The only land route for India to reach Afghanistan is through Pakistan which is not available to it because of Islamabad’s suspicions and a short-sighted approach. Despite sustained efforts made to convince Pakistan that allowing Indian goods to reach Afghanistan and the Central Asian countries through Pakistan’s territory would be economically beneficial for Islamabad too, no concrete result could be seen. Since Pakistan continues to treat Afghanistan as a neighbour which can help fulfil its long-cherished desire for strategic depth, Islamabad has been feeling threatened by Kabul’s increasing closeness to New Delhi after the discredited Taliban regime in Afghanistan was overthrown in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attack on New York’s Trade Towers and the Pentagon in Washington DC.

Afghanistan and Pakistan have been having a love-hate relationship because of Islamabad’s interference in Kabul’s internal affairs through the ISI’s patronage to various Taliban factions, yet Pakistan has been trying to prove to the world community that there can be no peace in Afghanistan without Islamabad’s involvement in any such effort. India’s growing presence in Afghanistan is obviously viewed by Islamabad as a big hindrance in its designs with regard to that land-locked country. Hence the denial to India of access to Afghanistan though Pakistan’s territory on various pretexts. The problem will now be easily surmountable for India due to the Chabahar deal signed with Iran.

Iran’s Chabahar port, which falls in the Gulf of Oman, is as strategically located asPakistan’s Gwadar port, which has been taken over by China on the pretext of expanding and developing it as a major trading junction. The location of both ports is such that each would face a tough competition from the other one.The Pakistani viewpoint in this regard has been summed up by Muhammad Daim Fazil, who teaches at the University of Gujarat, Sialkot Campus. Fazil points out in his latest article carried in Diplomat magazine that Gwadar has an edge over Chabahar in some ways. While China is in full control of Gwadar, India does not have such a role to play in the case of Chabahar.

The second significant factor, according to Fazil, is that there may be a clash of economic interests between India and Iran, impacting the functioning of Chabahar. As against this, the interests of China and Pakistan are different and would not come in the way of functioning of Gwadar. Despite these factors, Fazil admits, “Whether Gwadar or Chabahar, the development of both ports can assist millions of people.
Gwadar may well hold a slight edge because of its importance and utility, but it can produce best results only when there are no major regional threats. The same goes for Chabahar. Economic cooperation and integration is what’s needed in South Asia and even beyond. That, however, demands enhanced cooperation among all involved parties and the dissolution of all outstanding strategic and political misunderstandings.”

That is alright, but India will have to take care of at least two major security issues for its goods to reach their destination safely in Central Asia. One, India will have to ensure that the Pakistan Navy, which has a strong presence in the waters where Chabahar is located, does not create any roadblocks for Indian consignments reaching there.Two, once goods are loaded on trucks at Chabahar for being transported to the receiving parties in Central Asia, these vehicles will be passing through areas in Afghanistan where Taliban factions have their undisputed control. How to meet the Taliban threat will not be an easy task for India.

The Iranian Press described the deal as a major gain for both India and Iran with New Delhi now being comfortably “positioned against its strong competitor (China) by investing in the port.” Yet India needs to be wary of the Iranians, who may not like any move by New Delhi which may hurt the interests of China andPakistan. Some time back China and Iran signed a 10-year economic cooperation agreement with Beijing committing to increase its trade to $600 billion after the lifting of sanctions against Iran. Though Tehran is willing to supply as much oil and gas as India wants, Iran needs both China and Pakistan too for its energy exports. Lately, Iran has been strengthening its relations with Pakistan to meet the threat posed by the Islamic State extremists. For some time Tehran has been cultivating friendship with Afghanistan’s Taliban factions too to take on the Islamic State, which has been threatening Iranian interests in the Gulf region in various ways.

The situation is such that all the players in the region would do all they can to gain the maximum advantages possible under the changed circumstances. These are times of cooperative competition when India has to play its cards very cautiously, keeping its varied interests in view. Despite the opportunities available after the Chabahar deal, New Delhi will have to continue to mount diplomatic pressure on Islamabad to allow the land route to be used for transporting India’s goods to Afghanistan as there is a humanitarian angle also in the matter. Pakistan must be forced to abandon its negative policy on the land route to Afghanistan and Central Asia. A change in Pakistan’s policy will also go a long way in bringing India and Pakistan closer.