Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is true that India will be a part of a tri-lateral initiative with Afghanistan and Iran;
(b) if so, the details of the objectives of the summit; and
(c) the nature of ties between India and Iran presently in terms of infrastructure projects in Afghanistan?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SMT. PRENEET KAUR)

(a) to (c) At present India is not part of any trilateral initiative with Afghanistan and Iran. However a Memorandum of Understanding on “The Development and Construction of Transit and Transport Infrastructures in Chabahar-Milak-Zaranj-Delaram route between Iran, India and Afghanistan” was signed in January 2003 after a trilateral Ministerial level meeting between India, Iran and Afghanistan in Tehran. India has completed the Zaranj-Delaram highway in Afghanistan as part of its bilateral assistance program in Afghanistan. Discussions are ongoing with Iran on the development of Chabahar port and related infrastructure projects.

http://www.mea.gov.in/mystart.php?id=220217903.

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South Asia