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New Delhi: India has taken a big step to further increase its influence in Central Asia. India has taken control of Iran’s Chabahar port for 10 years. For this, India signed an agreement with Iran on Monday. Getting control of the operations of Shahid Beheshti Port Terminal located in Chabahar will help India in increasing trade with Central Asia. This step of India has shocked three countries at once. Getting control of Chabahar Port has created panic in Pakistan, China and America. America has even threatened to ban it. Whereas Pakistan and China are still silent.
Enraged over this agreement between India and Iran, America said that there is a possible danger of sanctions being imposed on any country doing business deals with Iran. Well, this step of India is being considered as a befitting reply to China and Pakistan. This is because the sea route distance between Gwadar Port being developed by China and Chabahar Bandarbagh now operated by India is only 172 kilometers and there are many countries which want to use Chabahar Port for their business.
How is this blow for China-Pakistan?
India getting control of Chabahar Port is no less than a shock for Pakistan and China. China is building Gwadar Port in Pakistan, which is only about 172 kilometers away from Chabahar Port by sea route. Whereas the distance between these two ports by road is about 400 kilometers. Because China wants to establish its dominance in the region by building Gwadar Port in Pakistan, it is quite beneficial for India to have control of Iran’s Chabahar Port. On one hand, this will end India’s dependence on Pakistan for business, on the other hand, India will be able to give a befitting reply to the Pakistan-China alliance.
Now Pakistan and China will be restless! Chabahar port of Iran came under the control of India, why is this deal important, how will it be beneficial?
How much does India benefit from Chabahar port?
This deal of India with Iran is very important strategically. With the control of this port, India’s path to Central Asia will become straight and easy, bypassing Pakistan. This agreement with Iran will boost regional connectivity and India’s relations with Afghanistan, Central Asia and Eurasia. This is the first time that India is taking over the management of a foreign port. By taking this port under its control, India has given a befitting reply to Gwadar Port in Pakistan as well as China’s Belt and Road Initiative. China wants to reach Central Asia from Gwadar Port in Pakistan. But now through Chabahar Port, India will counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative and this port will serve as an important connectivity link for India to Afghanistan, Central Asia and the wider Eurasian region. This port will be an alternative route to the traditional Silk Road as a hub for transit trade between India, Iran and Afghanistan. This port will open avenues of trade and investment opportunities for India and will boost India’s economic growth.
What threat did America give?
America said that any country doing business deals with Iran would face the possible threat of sanctions. US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said in the press conference, we are aware of the reports that Iran and India have signed an agreement related to Chabahar port. I would like the Indian government to talk about its foreign policy objectives in the context of Chabahar port and its bilateral relations with Iran. You have heard us say in many cases that any entity, any individual who is considering a trade deal with Iran, they should be aware of the potential risks and sanctions.
Pakistan and China are still silent
Even though Pakistan and China are silent due to this step of India, they must be feeling irritated. The way China wants to develop Central Asia by placing a gun on Pakistan’s shoulder, this move by India would have given a big shock to it. Now China will not be able to continue its monopoly in the area, because now India will also be present just at a short distance from Gwadar Port, which will give it a tough competition in the area. Anyway, there are many countries in Central Asia, which are willing to use Chabahar port for trade and business.
Where is this port, how much will the investment be?
Actually, Chabahar port is located in Sistan-Baluchistan province on the southern coast of Iran. India and Iran are jointly developing this port. The contract was signed by India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) and Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization in the presence of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. IPGL will invest around $120 million while $250 million will be raised as loan. This is the first time that India will take over the management of a port located abroad.
Why is India insisting?
India is emphasizing on the Chabahar port project to increase regional trade, especially connectivity with Afghanistan. This port has been projected as a major hub of the ‘International North-South Transport Corridor’ (INSTC) project. The INSTC project is a 7,200 km long multi-layered transport project to transport goods between India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe. Underlining India’s importance on connectivity projects with Iran, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had allocated Rs 100 crore for Chabahar Port for 2024-25.
Tag: Chabahar, china news, iran
first published : May 14, 2024, 1:46 pm IST
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