India, Tajikistan to Cooperate On Connectivity, Counter-Terror

Dushanbe (Tajikistan): India and Tajikistan agreed to work together to boost connectivity and join hands in the fight against terror as they signed eight pacts in various sectors after a meeting between Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon here on Monday. “Connectivity is vital for realising the full potential of our Strategic Partnership and economic relations,” Kovind told the media.

“Together, India and Tajikistan can promote the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and other connectivity initiatives such as the development of Chabahar port and the Ashgabat Agreement for smooth transport of goods,” he said. The INSTC is a 7,200-km-long multi-modal network of ship, rail and road routes to move freight between India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe. India, Iran and Afghanistan are jointly developing the Chabahar port in southeastern Iran which will be a key link in the INSTC. Earlier this year, India joined the Ashgabat Agreement which seeks to establish an international transport and transit corridor between Iran, Oman, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Kovind said India was committed to peace and development in Afghanistan through an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace process. (IANS)