The article begins by examining the increasing significance of the Chabahar Port for regional connectivity. This strategic port, located in the Gulf of Oman, was recently highlighted during a foreign ministerial meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), where India affirmed its commitment to improving connectivity in the region through the port.
India’s Role in the SCO and Chabahar Port
During the recent SCO foreign ministerial meeting, Indian officials emphasized the potential of the Chabahar Port in enhancing regional connectivity. India, which is slated to take over the SCO presidency next year, pushed for greater utilization of the port to expand ties with other member nations. With Iran’s recent entry into the SCO, this initiative is more feasible as all SCO members now have the opportunity to use the Chabahar Port’s facilities.
Addressing Regional Challenges: A Focus on Afghanistan
India has also been focused on supporting the Afghanistan crisis, extending humanitarian assistance to help combat food insecurity and hunger in the country. In addition, India raised the issues of energy and food crises arising from the ongoing Ukraine conflict, calling for a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism.
Chabahar Port: A Gateway to Trade Opportunities
Situated in southeastern Iran on the country’s energy-rich southern coast, the Chabahar Port offers direct ocean access, making it a highly strategic location. It is viewed as a gateway to lucrative trade opportunities by India, Iran, and Afghanistan, with central Asian countries. Its development will allow India to bypass Pakistan in transporting goods to Afghanistan via a sea-land route, effectively overcoming Pakistan’s current prohibition of Indian transport through its territory.
The Significance of the International North-South Transport Corridor
The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a multi-modal network envisioned for transporting freight across a 7,200-km route. The corridor aims to reduce carriage costs between India and Russia by about 30% and cut transit time from 40 days by over half. The INSTC will be instrumental in enhancing connectivity between major cities like Mumbai, Moscow, Tehran, Baku, and Astrakhan. More importantly, it could serve as a viable, fairer alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), significantly boosting regional connectivity.
Looking Ahead
The development of the Chabahar Port and the INSTC will undoubtedly have profound impacts on regional trade. By providing India with access to Afghanistan and beyond, this project will facilitate trade with countries such as Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Europe. Additionally, it could enhance people-to-people connections in the region, stimulate trade and investments, and potentially pave the way for the creation of a common market akin to the European Union or ASEAN.
A Strategic Step in Regional Development
India’s investment in Chabahar Port marked a strategic step in regional development. A commercial contract signed between India and Iran in 2016 grants a 10-year period of operations for India at the port. This gives India a reliable access route into Afghanistan and a more direct sea-route access into the Central Asian region, eliminating dependency on Pakistan for these routes.