NEW DELHI: Days after Iran invited China and Pakistan to participate indevelopment of the Chabahar Port India on Thursday said it was theprerogative of the Iranian government to choose its partners for theproject.

Iran’s foreign minister Javad Zarif, during a three-day visit to Islamabad,invited Pakistan and China to participate in the strategic Chabahar Portproject, saying it is not aimed at ‘strangulating’ or ‘encircling’ anybody.

‘It is the prerogative of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran tochoose its partners for the development of infrastructure facilitiesthere,’ External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said during amedia briefing.

The first phase of the Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman was inauguratedfour months ago, opening a new strategic route connecting Iran, India andAfghanistan bypassing Pakistan.

India has been a key partner in the development of the port which is easilyaccessible from India’s western coast and is increasingly seen as a counterto Pakistan’s Gwadar Port, being developed with Chinese investment.

‘As you are aware, India is supporting the development of Chahbahar Port asa robust and alternate access route to and for Afghanistan and CentralAsia,’ said Kumar, adding significant progress has been made inoperationlising the port.

In November last year, India delivered the first consignment of wheat toAfghanistan through the Chabahar Port. Agencies