Agreement Signed on Development of Chabahar Port

Context

?   India and Iran signed an agreement on the further development of the Chabahar Port.

Chabahar Port

?   Iran’s Chabahar port is located on the Gulf of Oman and is the only oceanic port of the country.

?   It is situated in the city of Chabahar in Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

?   Chabahar has two ports; Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti.

?   The former is an old port with limited water front to accommodate    feeder vessels.

?   The Shahid Beheshti Port is being developed in four phases. On completion of all 4 phases, port capacity will be 82 million tons per year.

?   The port gives access to the energy-rich Persian Gulf nations’ southern coast and India can bypass Pakistan with the Chabahar port becoming functional.

Significance of Chabahar Port for India

?   Geopolitical Significance: Chabahar Port is strategically located at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. It provides India with direct sea access to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.

?   India can bypass Pakistan in transporting goods to Afghanistan.

?   Gateway to INSTC: Chabahar port will boost India’s access to Iran, the key gateway to the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) that has sea, rail and road routes between India, Russia, Iran, Europe and Central Asia.

?   Countering China: Chabahar port will be beneficial to India in countering Chinese presence in the Arabian Sea which China is trying to ensure by helping Pakistan develop the Gwadar port.