New Delhi, December 13. Connectivity initiatives, particularly the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) were the focus of the second India-Iran-Armenia Trilateral Consultations held here.
While the Indian delegation was led by JP Singh, Joint Secretary (Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran) Division of the Ministry of External Affairs during the consultations, the Iranian side was led Hashem Ashja’ Zadeh, Director General of South Asia Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Armenian side by Anahit Karapetyan, Head of Asia-Pacific Department in Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.
“Building on the outcomes of the previous trilateral consultations held in Yerevan in April 2023, the three sides discussed connectivity initiatives, engagement in multilateral fora, and regional developments,” Ministry of External Affairs stated in a press release following the consultations here on Thursday. “They also explored ways to promote trade, tourism and cultural exchanges while strengthening people-to-people ties.”
The Ministry further stated that, during the consultations, the delegations emphasised the need for fostering close cooperation under the INSTC and highlighted the role of Chabahar Port in this regard.
“The Armenian side briefed the participants on its connectivity initiative ‘The Crossroads of Peace’,” the press release stated. “The three sides reiterated their commitment to continued cooperation under the format.”
The proposed transport corridor is designed to streamline the movement of goods from India and the Persian Gulf states to markets in the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The logistics chain would commence at the Mumbai port in India, where goods would be shipped to Chabahar, a port in southeastern Iran. From there, the route would extend through Armenia, utilising a combination of road and rail networks.
This corridor will form part of the INSTC, a 7,200-km multimodal network of shipping, rail, and road routes aimed at optimising freight transportation. The INSTC agreement, signed by India, Iran, and Russia in September 2000, seeks to establish the shortest multimodal route connecting the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea via Iran, ultimately reaching St. Petersburg. From St. Petersburg, access to Northern Europe through Russia is greatly facilitated.
Armenia’s significance in this initiative has grown due to the current INSTC route passing through Azerbaijan, a country with strong ties to Pakistan and Turkey, which raises security concerns for India. In contrast, India enjoys robust relations with both Iran and Armenia. In March, former Armenian Deputy Minister for Economy Narek Teryan highlighted the ongoing discussions about establishing an India-Iran-Armenia trade corridor. This proposed route, incorporating both maritime and land components, would integrate into the INSTC, connecting Mumbai with Moscow.
