Iran Invites Pakistan to Join India in Chabahar Project

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, during his visit to Pakistan, invited the country to join the development of the Chabahar port project being carried out by India. In this context, the Associated Press described this invitation as 'surprising,' noting that India is developing part of the Chabahar project to bypass Pakistan and establish trade relations with Afghanistan and Central Asian countries. Chabahar port is located about 100 kilometers from Pakistan's Gwadar port, which is being developed by China. India views both China and Pakistan as rivals. India has committed to investing $500 million in Chabahar port and exported its first shipment of goods through this port in the Oman Sea to Afghanistan last November. In this regard, the Pakistani newspaper Town reported that 'Zarif tried to alleviate Pakistan's concerns regarding India's participation in this port. He also invited China to participate in the development of Chabahar port.' Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, also stated during his meeting with Zarif that serious actions should be taken to increase the annual trade exchanges between the two countries to $5 billion by 2021. The report highlighted Zarif's praise for the 'timely sharing of Pakistan's security information with Iran,' mentioning that 'two suicide bombers who recently intended to enter Iranian territory were arrested with Pakistan's cooperation.' The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported on March 12 that two suicide bombers in a vehicle carrying ammunition intended to carry out a 'suicide' attack on a border post in Saravan, Sistan and Baluchestan province, but this attack 'failed,' and the vehicle's driver and another assailant were killed, with two Basij forces injured. The statement noted that simultaneously, an armed individual who 'failed to approach the post detonated his suicide vest' and was killed. The Associated Press reported that last year several armed individuals attacked Iranian border guards, killing 10 Iranian border guards. Zarif stated that the terrorists still hold one Iranian border guard hostage and called on Pakistan to assist in his release. The report added that officials have not yet specified which group was behind this attack. According to the report, Mohammad Javad Zarif did not provide an explanation regarding the deployment of 1,000 Pakistani military personnel to Saudi Arabia or the appointment of the former Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan to command the 'Coalition Against Terrorism' led by Saudi Arabia, which has excluded Iran from the coalition. Pakistani officials state that their military forces have been sent to train Saudi military forces in mountain warfare and will not enter the Yemen war. The Associated Press added that Saudi Arabia views Iran as a rival in the Middle East, and the two countries stand opposed on issues such as Syria and Yemen. Mr. Zarif stated in Pakistan that Iran has offered to negotiate with Saudi Arabia to restore stability to the region, but if the Riyadh government seeks a 'confrontational policy,' this will lead nowhere.