Kabul- The government of India has approved plan to develop Chabahar port in Iran in a bid to link Afghanistan and India through sea routes.

The port will be developed by an Indian joint venture company with an investment of $85.21 million and operate the port for 10 years. According to a government statement, an agreement will be signed between the Indian and Iranian governments for the development of the port and New Delhi intends to lease two berths at Chabahar for 10 years. Chabahar port is located in the sistan-Baluchistan province in southeastern coast of Iran which is considered to be a strategic utility for India. The port is having a distance of 883 km to Zaranj district of western Nimroz province which could link the major cities of Afghanistan, Herat, Kandahar, Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif to sea routes through Zaranj-Delaram road.