India Engages in Talks with US Over Sanctions on Iran’s Chabahar Port
India has pledged to engage in talks with the United States to resolve the issue of sanctions on Iran’s Chabahar Port, according to Taliban officials. The move comes after Washington announced it would revoke the port’s exemption from US sanctions.
Hamidullah Zahid, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce in the Taliban administration, told a local media outlet that New Delhi has committed to negotiations with Washington to ensure continued access to the Chabahar trade route.
India has invested around $120 million in Chabahar Port, which serves as a cost-effective alternative route for Afghan traders compared to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port. The port facilitates faster and cheaper import and export operations for Afghanistan, helping to reduce the country’s economic dependence on Pakistan.
A spokesperson for the US State Department recently announced that, effective September 29, the Chabahar Port exemption from American sanctions would be withdrawn—a move that could significantly impact regional trade, especially the flow of goods to and from Afghanistan through this corridor.
Zahid emphasized that Afghanistan’s trade policy is based on mutual interests rather than the replacement of existing relations. He further stated that trade routes should remain open to Afghanistan and that a special committee has been formed to address the obstacles.
While the Taliban administration continues to seek regional economic opportunities through infrastructure such as the Chabahar Port, its lack of international recognition poses a major obstacle to foreign economic engagement and building trust with international partners.
