Russian President Vladimir Putin, strongly pushed the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) as the key connectivity link between Russia and India via Iran by describing it as a truly ambitious project notwithstanding China hard pressing BRI as a mega connectivity initiative in the Eurasian region.
On Wednesday, Addressing the 6th Caspian Sea Summitin the presence of leaders from Central Asia and Iran, Putin made special reference to the INSTC that connects India with Russia within the shortest possible time. He described the project, which is 7,200-kilometre-long, as a “transport artery from St Petersburg to ports in Iran and India”. INSTC aims to connect Caspian Sea region countries, including Kazakhstan.