A win-win situation for both the sides, India and Iran signed the much-anticipated bilateral agreement for the development of the Chabahar port along with a related agreement involving Afghanistan, and the establishment of a trilateral trade and transit corridor. Located 120 km west of China's own Gwadar port in Pakistan's Balochistan province, Chabahar will help India get direct access to Afghanistan and Central Asia. "Today, we are all witnessing creation of history, not just for the people of our three countries, but for the entire region. To build bonds of connectivity is the most basic of human urges," said Modi. The trilateral pact was inked in the presence of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, and Afghan Prez Ashraf Ghani.
Apart from the port agreement, both sides signed 12 other deals, including economy, trade, transportation, port development, culture, science and academic cooperation. A joint statement issued after the meeting said, "Noting with deep concern that terrorism and ideologies of violent extremism continue to infest and ingress the region, posing a grave threat to peace, stability, and developmen, they stressed the need to completely eradicate all forms of terrorism and defeat the forces of extremism."
Tackling Terrorism
Even with the port agreement being the underlying point of focus, terrorism took up a big part of the discussion held between both the leaders. "Due to the importance of stability and security in the region, especially in countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Yemen, a big problem called terrorism is running rife and rampant in the region. The two countries discussed political issues as well, and how they can cooperate on intelligence-sharing, their fight against terrorism and extremism, and how they can contribut towards peace and stability in the region," said Rouhani. Modi said the bilateral agreement to develop the port and related infrastructure, along with availability of about $500 million from India for this purpose, is an "important milestone". "This major effort would boost economic growth in the region," the Indian PM said.
President Rouhani hosted a lunch in honour of the guest while, gifted him reproductions of Ghalib's collection of poetry in Persian 'Kulliyat-e-Farsi-e-Ghalib', as also Sumair Chand's Persian translation of Ramayana. Modi also called upon Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, gifting him a specially commissioned reproduction of a rare seventh-century manuscript of the Holy Quran attributed to Hazrat Ali, the fourth caliph. Ayatollah Khamenei warned that terrorist groups are recruiting forces in Muslim countries by taking advantage of some problems and weaknesses in Muslim communities. "Countries must strip terrorists of such pretexts," added the Leader. He said “genuine and serious fight on terrorism” provides the grounds for cooperation between Iran and India.
Modi kickstarted his trip with a visit to the region's only functioning gurdwara where he paid obeisance. The first Indian PM to visit Iran in 15 years, Modi did a lot more than just offering prayers at the Bhai Ganga Singh Sabha Gurdwara. He applauded the efforts of the Sikh community in the Persian Gulf nation for preserving and spreading Indian culture and tradition.
Modi also addressed the inaugural session of a Conference on ''India and Iran, Two Great Civilizations: Retrospect and Prospects' and released a rare Persian manuscript.
