Push US to lift Chabahar curbs, Afghanistan minister urges policymakers

NEW DELHI: Afghanistan's foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi urged Indian policymakers to push for the removal of US restrictions on the strategic Chabahar port.At an interaction organised by industry chamber Ficci, Muttaqi said Afghanistan wants "optimum utilisation" of Chabahar and wants India to raise the matter with the US.

"Both countries (India and the US) should make efforts to lift restrictions," he said.

India has for long thought of using the Chabahar port in Iran for accessing markets such as Afganistan but the recent tightening of sanctions on Iran has raised doubts over how it can be done effectively.Muttaqi also spoke on easing visa rules to boost trade, investment, and people-to-people ties. He appealed for simplified procedures: "...You

issue visas, make the visa processes easier, flights come and go, there is no issue, passports are there, there is no issue, what is not there is visas, give visas," he told reporters.The minister also announced direct flights between Amritsar and Kabul and to increase cargo traffic through air between Amritsar and Kandahar and between Delhi and Kabul, said Rajya Sabha member Vikramjit Singh Sahney said after the meeting.