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Modi, Rouhani power India-Iran ties with Chabahar port pact

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday held "substantive" talks on key issues of trade, energy, security and terrorism, after which the two sides inked nine pacts, including a lease contract for a part of Chabahar port's operation for 18 months. The two leaders also deliberated on the regional situation during wide-ranging talks, with both asserting that there was a need for a peaceful, stable, prosperous and a pluralistic Afghanistan.
The two sides also inked nine pacts, which included lease contract between Iran's Port and Maritime Organization and India's Ports Global Limited (IPGL) to take over operation of existing facilities at the Shahid Beheshti Port — Phase 1 of Chabahar — for 18 months. Other pacts included avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, ratification of extradition treaty, exemption from visa requirement for holders of diplomatic passports, traditional systems of medicine and establishment of an expert group on trade remedy measures. In addition to these nine pacts, four more pacts were inked on the sidelines of Rouhani's visit between the two countries, officials said.
Modi said that the visit by the Iranian president shows how the two sides want to deepen cooperation in key areas, including connectivity, and described the strategically- important Chabahar as a "golden gateway", development of which will help in reaching out to land-locked Afghanistan and central Asia. The prime minister also appreciated the way the Iranian leader provided leadership in developing the Chabahar Port. Noting that they had "positive talks" on tariff-related issues and banking relations, Rouhani said,"We have decided to expand cooperation in natural gas and petrochemical sector."
Earlier, Rouhani was given a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. In the morning, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on Rouhani and discussed various issues with him.
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