US will carefully evaluate the impact of sanctions, will consider Chabahar: US official

A top US administration official said in an interview that, US is in process of reviewing the impact if US’ Iran sanctions on India’s interests in the region including Chabahar Port in Iran and trade with Afghanistan.

The Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia, Alice Wells said in an Interview,” When it comes to Chabahar, we are in the process of reviewing the imposition of sanctions”.

She said, “So that process (of review) is underway and we take India’s concerns and interest in being able to expand exports to Afghanistan and to increase Afghanistan’s  exports to India, very seriously”.

She added, “As we look at the reinforcement of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or the sanctions, we will, I think carefully, evaluate the impact that it could have, for instance on Afghanistan”.

Wells further added, “Certainly the wheat exports that India has sent to Afghanistan have been critical particularly at a time when the drought is having such an impact and will certainly impact the supplies that will be available to the Afghan population this year”.

Last year, India sent 1.1 million tons of wheat as aid to war torn Afghanistan through Chabahar port in Iran and via land route through Iran.

India is developing Chabahar Port in Iran to be connected with landlocked Afghanistan in case Pakistan denies to access the land route between India and Afghanistan. Chabahar is important for India to connect with and to spread its trade in central Asia.

India is putting in all the efforts for stability, peace and infrastructure development in Afghanistan. Recently, India-China agreed to finance the development projects in Afghanistan together.

After US President withdrew from Iran Nuclear deal, JCPOA, and announced to reimpose sanctions on Iran, it may be difficult for India to trade with central Asia and to be connected with Afghanistan through Chabahar Port. India has asked US for relief from sanctions for Chabahar Port.

 

Konark Bassi

Konark, a great human being by nature is also a good learner and a deep thinker. Konark portrays his incredible writing skills into journalism and writes what he finds authentic and acceptable. He is a good social worker and enjoys his time caring for others.

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