Chabahar port

Chabahar port located in gulf of Oman is a seaport in the southeastern Iran. Chabahar port agreement is a trilateral agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan to develop railroad connectivity linking Chabahar port of Iran to Zahedan, across afghan borders.

• The project was conceived in 2003 during the prime ministership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• However, the project did not materialise due to U.S sanctions on Iran.
• The project was revived under the initiative of PM Narendra Modi.
• According to the 2016 MoUs, India would be granted a 10-year lease to develop and operate two terminals and five berths, access to the Chabahar free trade zone, and the opportunity to build the 628 km rail line from Chabahar to Zahedan, just across the border from Afghanistan.
• Iranian government decision to proceed with the construction on its own, dropping India, citing delays from the Indian side in funding and starting the project is a setback.
• India’s loss in failing to develop the Chahbahar project is China’s gain.
• While India’s influences is waning, China and Iran are in an advanced stage of finalising the 25 year strategic partnership agreement that would allow China to expand its presence in banking, telecommunications, ports, railways and several other sectors in the Islamic Republic in return for heavily discounted oil.

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• Chabahar project was a reflection of India’s commitment to the peace and stability of Afghanistan and the age old ties with Iran.
• Chabahar port is considered as the gateway for India to Central Asia upto Moscow for trade , energy and connectivity.
• It opens access to landlocked Afghanistan circumventing troublesome Pakistan.
• Chabahar port situated in gulf of Oman not far from the Strait of Hormuz, through which the bulk of the world’s energy supplies pass.
• The port is easily accessible from India’s western coast and is increasingly seen as the counter to Pakistan’s Gwadar port where Chinese ships sustain anchorage.
• The Chabahar port is also seen as a feeder port to the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) that has sea, rail and road routes between India, Russia, Iran, Europe, and Central Asia.

• India should maintain its strategic autonomy in its relationship with Iran vis-a-vis U.S.A. Delay in project implementation due to American sanctions heavily cost India in its ties with Iran.