Chabahar Port: Bharat-Iran’s Single Deal Alarmed Several Nations From Pakistan China To America

Paromita Das 

GG News Bureau

New Delhi, 30th May. Bharat gained the authority to run Iran’s Chabahar port for the ensuing ten years. Several nations throughout the world expressed concern about this as soon as the two nations signed the final contract.

The issue isn’t that Bharat is devoid of foreign agents. By characterizing it as a common occurrence, many of these individuals attempted to lessen its impact. However, it must be understood by everybody that “Chabahar” represents a significant step toward Bharat’s economic strengthening in the future. This port, which is crucial for Bharat since it offers a vital gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asian nations, is situated in southeast Iran on the Gulf of Oman.

Undoubtedly, the Modi administration has fulfilled the 21-year-old dream of Bharat during its second term in office. Subsequently, Bharat’s recent worldwide diplomatic initiative on this single port has taken the world’s major powers by surprise. China, an expansionist nation, is unsure of how to react to Bharat’s decision, which has angered its opponents. Nonetheless, the effectiveness of this action highlights the need to improve regional connectivity at a time when major commercial routes in the Middle East and West Asia have been hampered by regional wars.

The most significant advantage that Bharat currently enjoys on a global scale is, in reality, the improvement in relations with the Middle Eastern nations and the consequent rise in Bharat’s commerce with them. It goes without saying that those in Bharat who are looking for work will stand to gain the most from this. It is anticipated that “Chabahar” alone will give lakhs of people both direct and indirect work. Due to the fact that this will make trade between Bharat and many other countries easier, transportation costs will go down in comparison to earlier, and because many companies in the country are producing a wide range of goods (consumer goods), market availability will soon improve.

In actuality, the Atal government acknowledged its significance back in 2003. The Bharatiya government also began making efforts to purchase this port. The deal was overshadowed, however, when the Atal government switched. During the ten years when Congress ruled the Center, no work was undertaken on this. Though Bharat has incurred losses for a long time in both situations, it is also plausible that Congress wants to continue helping Pakistan or that it does not want to offend nations like China and the United States.

One can wonder what Pakistan stood to gain from the Manmohan-Sonia Congress government at the time. Bharat’s trade with Central Asian nations was once facilitated by the Pakistan route. Bharat too took the path through Pakistan to ship commodities to Afghanistan. Of course, this used to bring Pakistan enormous economic benefits, but that is all changing today. Bharat now has a new commercial channel from Afghanistan and Central Asia because of the agreement between Iran and Bharat on “Chabahar.” Pakistan will no longer be required in order to access these nations.

Actually, the Modi administration performed so well that it initiated new talks on “Chabahar” as soon as the BJP took office in 2014. As a fortunate consequence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the renewal of this port deal in 2016. During his trip to Iran, this happened once again. The Modi administration then finalized the arrangement with Iran in 2018, which increased Bharat’s involvement in the port. This details the 10-year contract that Bharat and Iran agreed to manage the Shahid Beheshti Port in Chabahar. The deal has been inked by Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization and India Ports Global Limited. By doing this, Bharat also begins the process of assuming control of any port that is situated overseas.

Bharatiya diplomacy views this move as a counterbalance to Pakistan’s Gwadar port, which was built with Chinese aid. The distance from the sea to Gwadar and Chabahar is just 72 kilometers. Bharat’s aspirations to expand its influence in Central Asia will be greatly aided by the port of Chabahar, making it even more strategically significant. Currently, Chabahar Port is also considered to be a significant part of Bharat’s planned International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) project.

This route passes through Iran, the Persian Gulf, the Bharatiya Ocean, and the Caspian Sea before arriving in Northern Europe via Russia. Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Belarus, Oman, Syria, Bulgaria, and Russia would all be connected via road and rail systems under this. The opening of this corridor will reduce shipping times and costs while increasing trade between Russia, Iran, Central Asia, Bharat, and Europe. Bharat’s trade will rise by several thousand crores of rupees as a result.
Just this single transaction has several nations alarmed, from Pakistan to China and from America to China. After the agreement, the United States is even heard threatening to punish Bharat. The Belt and Road Initiative from China may also be viewed as Bharat’s response with this move. As a result of the port’s usage, Pakistan appears to be losing significance among many other Central Asian nations.

Better yet, during the Modi administration, Bharat authorized the Chabahar Port Agreement, which will further develop the port in the region, as well as India Ports Global’s bid to take over Sittwe Port of Myanmar in the Bay of Bengal. Bharat would be able to develop its commercial network and maritime footprint much more. It makes sense that many nations throughout the world have been restless lately with all of the positive news that Bharat is receiving from all directions.