RAJYA SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO.55
TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2017
TRILATERAL AGREEMENT FOR TRANSPORT AND TRANSIT CORRIDOR
*55. SHRI MAJEED MEMON:
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether India, Iran and Afghanistan have signed a trilateral agreement in 2016 for establishing a transport and transit corridor for the strategically located Chabahar Port in Iran;
(b) whether Japan has also shown its interest with India for development of the Port and has committed an investment to help improve Afghanistan’s access to the Port;
(c) whether Japan’s interest in the Port is seen as a counterbalance to China’s Gwadar port, barely 75 kms away in Pakistan; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRIMATI SUSHMA SWARAJ)
(a) to (d) A statement is laid on the table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 55 REGARDING "TRILATERAL AGREEMENT FOR TRANSPORT AND TRANSIT CORRIDOR” FOR ANSWER ON 20.07.2017
(a) & (b) Yes. During the visit of Prime Minister to Iran in May 2016, India, Iran and Afghanistan signed a Trilateral Agreement to establish an International Transport and Transit Corridor through the Chabahar port.
The Joint Statement issued during the visit of Prime Minister to Japan on 11 November 2016, stated that the two Prime Ministers welcomed the prospects of cooperation between the two countries for promoting peace and prosperity in South Asia and neighbouring
region, such as Iran and Afghanistan, through both bilateral and trilateral cooperation, inter-alia, in the development of infrastructure and connectivity for Chabahar.
(c) No, Sir.
(d) Does not arise.