US extends India’s sanctions waiver on Chabahar port for another 6 months

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - New Delhi: Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, announced that the United States has extended India’s six-month sanctions waiver on Chabahar port. The waiver, which expired on Tuesday, was extended after intensive negotiations between the two sides to continue India’s activities at the strategic port.

 

According to reports, Chabahar port plays a vital role in India’s regional connectivity plan and provides a direct transit route for the country to Afghanistan, Central Asia and Eastern Russia. The port also ensures the continuation of India’s economic and humanitarian cooperation with countries in the region.

 

The US government had previously announced its intention to revoke India’s sanctions waiver for Chabahar, a move that, if implemented, would end the waiver that had been in place since 2018 during the Trump administration.

 

According to Indian and international media reports, India has been exerting strong diplomatic pressure in recent months to maintain the Chabahar port exemption, stressing that the port is vital for the development of transit of goods and regional connectivity projects. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has announced that the waiver will allow India to continue its infrastructure projects and economic investments in Chabahar without hindrance.

 

According to experts, the extension of the US sanctions waiver for India is a positive step towards strengthening New Delhi’s regional and economic cooperation with neighboring countries, especially Afghanistan and Central Asia. Observers say the move demonstrates the importance of Chabahar Port in India's transit and economic strategy and could help develop regional trade and strengthen India's connectivity routes with West Asia and Russia.