Bypassing Pakistan, Indian wheat successfully reaches Afghanistan via Chabahar
The first consignment of wheat from India to Afghanistan was flagged off by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani on October 29, reached the Afghan city of Zaranj near the Iran-Afghanistan border on Saturday via the Iranian port of Chabahar, thereby bypassing Pakistan. "1st India wheat shipment via #Chabahar welcomed into Zaranj #Afghanistan with traditional song, dance and joy! Proud moment!!," Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Manpreet Vohra tweeted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani decorated Zaranj as the shipment arrived, said Vohra. The decision was taken after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's one-day visit to India on October 24. While flagging off the shipment on October 29, Sushma Swaraj also thanked Iran "for providing assistance in facilitating the movement of this gift through Chabahar Port". "This shows the convergence between the ancient civilisations of India, Afghanistan and Iran to spur unhindered flow of commerce and trade throughout the region," she said. The shipment is part of a commitment made by India to supply 1.1 million tonnes of wheat for the people of Afghanistan on a grant basis. -PTC News
