NEW DELHI: Afghanistan on Sunday welcomed the first ever shipment of wheat from India to the landlocked country via Iran’s Chabahar port.
“It’s the beginning of a new era, one of prosperity, of economic integration between South and Central Asia, bridged by Afghanistan. It’s a strategic asset for Afghanistan and the region,” Shiada M. Abdali, Afghan ambassador to India, told Arab News.
“The opening of a sea route brings Afghanistan back to its traditional role in the region as a bridge between South and Central Asia.”
India’s Foreign Ministry described the shipment as “a landmark moment,” adding: “It will open up new opportunities for trade and transit from and to Afghanistan, and enhance trade and commerce between the three countries (India, Iran and Afghanistan) and the wider region.”
Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said: “This is the starting point of our journey to realize the full spectrum of connectivity from culture to commerce, from traditions to technology, from investments to information technology, from services to strategy, and from people to politics.”
It is also “a significant development” for India, Vishal Chandra, research fellow at the New Delhi-based Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), told Arab News.
“It’ll not only revive the Afghan economy but also extend India’s commercial outreach to Central Asia,” he said.
“The port comes at a crucial time when Afghanistan is passing through a rough security phase, and the new economic route will provide new hope. The whole idea is that Afghanistan develops its capacity to be more independent.”
India and Afghanistan established an air freight corridor in June, and last month they held a four-day mega trade show in New Delhi to boost bilateral economic engagement.
India and Iran reached an agreement to develop Chabahar port in 2003 to help New Delhi reach out to landlocked Central Asia and Afghanistan.
India starts new trade route to Afghanistan via Iran
India starts new trade route to Afghanistan via Iran
Greek police detain 313 in raid at university after mob attacked police
- Such attacks against riot police near the university campus are not uncommon
- Riot police used tear gas and stun grenades to beat back the attackers
THESSALONIKI, Greece: Authorities in Greece on Saturday detained 313 people in a raid on the university campus of the country’s second-largest city, Thessaloniki, after riot police were attacked by mobs of people hurling more than 100 Molotov cocktails.
Greek police said roving groups of people wearing hoods emerged from the campus of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in the predawn hours Saturday to attack a squad of riot police. The unit is usually deployed some distance from the campus to quell any disturbances after all-night parties that take place on university grounds.
Police said all 313 people were released without being charged.
Such attacks against riot police near the university campus are not uncommon but it’s the first time that so many people were detained after such a clash during which an unusually high number of firebombs was used.
Riot police used tear gas and stun grenades to beat back the attackers. One officer was taken to a military hospital for burns to his face and leg while a 21-year-old civilian was treated for respiratory problems, police said.
The university said in a statement that off-campus “extremists” in conjunction with some individuals from within university grounds had committed the attacks. They said an investigation is underway to determine if any students had taken part. They added that no permission had been granted for any party to take place on university grounds.
