Taliban snubs Pakistan for India? Kabul rulers offer protection to Chabahar Port

The Taliban regime in Afghanistan released a statement on December 7, welcoming the India-operated Chabahar Port's inclusion in the North-South Transport Corridor. Taliban's Defence Ministry said that they will provide all necessary protection and facilities for it. The development gains significance as the Iranian port is off immense strategic importance to India. New Delhi hopes the port can provide land access from Iran into the land-locked Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan's restrictions on India's overland access to Kabul.