<span style="color: #222222;">Afghanistan's Permanent Representative to the UN Mahmoud Saikal today hailed the US decision for exempting the Chabahar port project from its tough sanctions against Iran. The project is being developed by India.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Speaking at a Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan, Mr Saikal said the Chabahar Port remains an important gateway for providing commercially viable access to the sea linking the Indian Ocean with Afghanistan, Central Asia and beyond. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Last month, the Trump administration exempted India from imposition of certain sanctions for the development of the strategically-located Chabahar Port in Iran along with the construction of the railway line connecting it with Afghanistan. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Meanwhile India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Tanmaya Lal told the Security Council meeting that New Delhi is working closely with Kabul in implementing development projects. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">In May 2016, India, Iran and Afghanistan inked a pact which entailed establishment of Transit and Transport Corridor among the three countries using Chabahar Port as one of the regional hubs for sea transportation. </span><br />