By Our Correspondent
TEHERAN/NEW DELHI: Biju Janata Dal Lok Sabha MP from Kendrapara district Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda claimed that India-Iran ties always good for South-Central Asia. BJD MP Panda was part of an India delegation that visited Iran.
“I was in Iran for three days as part of an Indian delegation put together by ICCR and India Foundation, coinciding with the Prime Minister’s visit. The agreements signed with Iran and Afghanistan are a very big deal, potentially epochal. They have been on the anvil for many years and when implemented, provide not only enormous commercial and trade benefits, but extremely strategic benefits as well (allowing us to bypass, which has long exploited its geographic location to act as a gatekeeper to Afghanistan and Central Asia),” Panda twitted.
India must overcome its mixed track record in implementation and prioritise the execution of the Chabahar port in Iran and the associated road link to Afghanistan. Our delegation participated in one of the key events inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi. Separately, we had many engagements and meetings with Iranian think tanks, academics, diplomats and politicians, the senior MP said.
