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When India signed the historic trilateral agreement with Iran and Afghanistan in 2016 to develop the Chabahar Port, it was not just making an investment in bricks, mortar, and trade. It was making a statement—a statement of intent, of strategic foresight, and of commitment to building a more connected, cooperative South and Central Asia. Today, as global attention pivots to newer power corridors and as the world learns the importance of diversified logistics, Chabahar’s relevance stands reaffirmed. More importantly, India’s role appears vindicated.
A Vision Rooted in Regional Stability
India’s engagement with the Chabahar Port has always been about more than mere economics. It is about creating an open, inclusive route for trade and connectivity that respects the sovereignty of nations and empowers the region’s peoples. Chabahar, unlike many ports tied into opaque loan mechanisms, was never about debt diplomacy. It was about partnership. India’s development of Chabahar’s Shahid Beheshti terminal and its consistent logistical support to Afghanistan underline this very ethos.
India envisaged the Chabahar project not just as a bypass to Pakistan—though it certainly offered that advantage—but as a gateway to connect with Afghanistan, Central Asia, and beyond through peaceful, secure, and reciprocal infrastructure.
India: The Steady Hand
Since the early 2000s, New Delhi has displayed remarkable consistency in its approach to Chabahar. The 2016 agreement gave it a fresh push, but the groundwork had been laid over years of quiet diplomacy and strategic patience. Where others have blown hot and cold, India has demonstrated commitment despite geopolitical constraints—most notably, the U.S. sanctions regime against Iran.
While many international players pulled back from Iranian ventures due to fear of secondary sanctions, India remained engaged. It used diplomacy to secure waivers, kept humanitarian trade flowing to Afghanistan, and even shipped wheat and other essential commodities via Chabahar when no other reliable routes were available. In doing so, India played a vital role in ensuring that the Afghan people had access to food and supplies—especially during times of crisis.
Chabahar: An Indian Counterbalance to CPEC
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and particularly the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), have raised eyebrows globally over issues of transparency and strategic intent. India’s investment in Chabahar offers a more ethical, cooperative, and transparent alternative. While CPEC traverses through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, violating India’s territorial sovereignty, Chabahar is built on mutual respect and multilateral benefit.
Through Chabahar, India has laid the foundation for a counter-narrative to China’s monopolistic designs. It shows that infrastructure can be inclusive and not exploitative, respectful rather than overbearing. For the countries of Central Asia, which have often been wary of being caught between big powers, India’s model is not only attractive—it is necessary.
Afghanistan: A Partner, Not a Pawn
India’s commitment to Afghanistan through Chabahar has been unwavering, regardless of the political changes in Kabul. Even after the fall of the Ashraf Ghani government and the return of the Taliban, India did not abandon the people of Afghanistan. It continued to deliver humanitarian assistance via Chabahar, reinforcing that its policies are people-centric and not regime-dependent.
India has consistently argued that the Afghan people deserve access to trade, aid, and opportunity, and Chabahar has been a lifeline. Unlike other regional players who have viewed Afghanistan as a strategic backyard, India has treated Afghanistan as a friend and partner. This approach has earned it deep respect among ordinary Afghans, as well as among regional observers.
Renewed Relevance in the New Global Order
The COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine crisis, and the renewed global focus on resilient supply chains have changed the way nations look at connectivity. The world is slowly realizing that trade routes must be de-risked, diversified, and made sovereign. In this light, Chabahar is gaining the recognition it always deserved.
India, once again, appears ahead of the curve. It is working to integrate Chabahar with the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal route connecting India to Russia via Iran and Central Asia. This corridor can transform regional trade, bringing down costs and increasing efficiency while bypassing volatile choke points.
India’s foreign policy establishment has also made smart moves in aligning Chabahar with broader multilateral forums such as the SCO and BRICS. Iran’s recent entry into both these groupings enhances the feasibility of regional trade through Chabahar and opens new doors for collaboration.
Iran and India: A Resilient Bond
The India-Iran relationship has weathered many storms, but the mutual respect between the two nations has ensured continuity. While Tehran has deepened ties with China in recent years, it has never allowed those ties to override its traditional friendship with India. Iranian officials have repeatedly stressed the importance of India’s role in Chabahar, and cooperation on the ground continues, albeit with some pauses.
In fact, Chabahar remains the only Iranian port where a foreign country—India—has been entrusted with operational responsibility. This is no small matter. It reflects the trust Iran places in India and the strategic alignment between the two civilizations.
The Road Ahead: Opportunity Awaits
India must now consolidate its leadership in the Chabahar project. This means not only fulfilling its commitments swiftly but also thinking bigger. The long-awaited rail link between Chabahar and Zahedan must be revived with urgency. India must also invite other regional players, especially landlocked Central Asian republics, to use Chabahar as a natural trade gateway.
New Delhi should also consider setting up a “Chabahar Logistics Hub” with customs clearance, warehousing, and e-trade capabilities. This would not only boost usage of the port but also make Indian exports more competitive in Central Asia and Europe.
Above all, India must maintain the moral high ground. Unlike other nations that link infrastructure to military presence or extractive economic practices, India’s model must remain what it is—cooperative, inclusive, and built on mutual prosperity.
Conclusion
Revisiting the Chabahar Project is not about restarting something forgotten; it is about recommitting to a vision that has stood the test of time. India’s role in this project reflects its maturity as a responsible regional power—one that invests for the long term, acts with restraint, and builds partnerships based on trust and mutual interest.
In a world grappling with uncertainty and polarization, Chabahar is a lighthouse. And India, with its patience, perseverance, and principled diplomacy, is the keeper of that light.
Write can be reached on syedjahanzeeb2@gmail.com .
