Iran-India-Pakistan Hold Tripartite Meeting On Economic Co-op

Tehran, Aug 27, IRNA – Iranian, Indian and Pakistani foreign ministry officials Sunday agreed to form a task group for strengthening joint economic cooperation. The agreement was reached during a tripartite meeting held in the Iranian southeastern city of Chabahar to discuss grounds for promotion of joint economic cooperation. Located in the Iranian Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Chabahar is a free port (Free Trade Zone) on the coast of the Gulf of Oman. The officials also agreed to follow up efforts to develop joint trade activities, investments and transit of goods among the three capitals during a meeting which would be held in Chabahar three months later. Given their joint cultural viewpoints, Tehran, Islamabad and New Delhi could further serve their common interests through cooperation at the international and regional circles, Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran Abbas Araqchi said after the meeting. Meanwhile, the Indian and Pakistani officials voiced their countries' readiness to boost joint economic cooperation with Tehran in the future referring to the tripartite meeting as a good opportunity to move in that direction./end