‘India concerned over delay in implementation’

New Delhi: The delay in implementation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) in view of the current situation in West Asia is a matter of “concern” and the expectation generated following the firming up of the initiative in September last has to be “adjusted” a bit now, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said.

Jaishankar said all the stakeholders of the IMEC — a ship-to-rail transit network — are committed to it as they feel it is a “great” initiative.

“It has definitely been a source of concern for us and the kind of expectation we had when the agreement was signed in September, we have had to adjust it a bit,” he said when asked whether the ongoing crisis in West Asia would delay the project by at least a few years.

“On the other hand, all the parties to the agreement have reconfirmed that ‘we think it is a great idea’ and all are committed to it,” he said.

Billed as a pathbreaking initiative, the IMEC envisages a vast road, railroad and shipping network among Saudi Arabia, India, the United States and Europe with an aim to ensure integration among Asia, the Middle East and the West.

“So we will have to wait for things to stabilise a bit. I think it is a matter of great concern and it is also a very complex issue. Because it is not a single issue on which you have a black and white judgement,” Jaishankar said.

“I think you have a range of concerns out there, from terrorism to hostages to humanitarian corridor to a two-state solution,” he said.

“So how do you get the balance right and more importantly, how do you make it actually work on the ground,” he added.

The IMEC also envisages the inclusion of an electricity cable network, a hydrogen pipeline, high-speed data cable network to facilitate overall economic growth in the partner countries.

The IMEC is also seen as an initiative by like-minded nations to gain strategic influence in the face of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has faced increasing criticism over a lack of transparency and disregard for the sovereignty of the nations.

The IMEC initiative was firmed up on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi. An agreement was signed by India, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, the UAE, the US and some other G20 partners for the corridor.

There has been a delay in rolling out the initiative on the ground in view of the precarious security situation in

West Asia.