Chabahar is a deep-water port located on the Makran Coast of Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan province, adjacent to the Gulf of Oman and at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz. It is the only Iranian port with direct access to the Indian Ocean and consists of two separate ports: Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti.

HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF INDIA’S ENGAGEMENT WITH CHABAHAR

Phase of Origin and Conception of Chabahar

• 1970s-1980s: Conception of modern Chabahar began. Its strategic importance was realized during the Iran-Iraq war.
• January 2003: Iranian President Khatami and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee signed a roadmap for strategic cooperation, including Chabahar’s development.

Phase of Stagnation

• 2004-2015: The US labeled Iran part of the “axis of evil,” leading India to abandon its strategic relationship with Tehran, stalling the Chabahar project.

Phase of Progress and Completion

• 2015: The signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) normalized Iran’s relations with P-5+1, reviving the Chabahar project.
• 2016: A trilateral agreement between India, Iran, and Afghanistan established the International Transport and Transit Corridor, accelerating Chabahar’s development.
• 2018: Despite the US withdrawal from JCPOA, India secured a US waiver for the Chabahar project, citing strategic reasons.

IMPORTANCE OF CHABAHAR PORT

Geostrategic Importance

1. Gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia: Provides an alternative route for India to reach these regions, bypassing a hostile Pakistan.
2. Enhancing Connectivity with Russia and Eurasia: Complements the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) for optimized connectivity.
3. Diversification of Import Routes: Offers strategic advantages to India’s oil and gas sector by diversifying import routes.

Geopolitical Importance

1. Humanitarian Assistance: Facilitated the supply of humanitarian aid, including 2.5 million tonnes of wheat and 2,000 tonnes of pulses to Afghanistan during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Bolstering Bilateral Relations: Strengthened India’s ties with West Asian neighbors, exemplified by India’s supply of malathion pesticide to Iran.
3. Countering Chinese Infrastructure Push: Counters China’s influence in Central and West Asia, notably the Gwadar Port in Pakistan.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

India and Iran recently signed a contract allowing India to invest in and operate the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar for another 10 years. This agreement comes amidst ongoing conflicts and political changes in the region.

INDIA’S STRATEGIC VISION

• Economic and Strategic Importance: Chabahar is central to India’s extended neighborhood strategy, linking India to Central Asia and Russia via the International North–South Transport Corridor, bypassing Pakistan.
• Afghanistan’s Support: The Taliban-led government in Kabul supports Chabahar, investing $35 million to reduce reliance on Pakistani ports like Karachi and China-backed Gwadar. In November 2023, Taliban leader Mullah Baradar visited Chabahar.

BILATERAL RELATIONS AND CHALLENGES

• Symbol of India-Iran Ties: Chabahar symbolizes the fluctuating India-Iran relationship. Despite public support, other projects like the Farzad-B gas field have stalled, and the IranoHind shipping company dissolved in 2013 due to sanctions.
• Legacy Project: Initiated in 2003, Chabahar represents India’s early ventures in developing economic assets abroad, akin to the Sakhalin-I project in Russia.

DIPLOMATIC REFLECTIONS

• Geopolitical Context: The latest deal follows heightened Israel-Iran tensions. India’s Adani Group has also invested $1.2 billion in Israel’s Haifa port, showcasing India’s balanced diplomatic efforts.
• S. Relations: Despite potential U.S. sanctions on Chabahar, India’s continued development of the port is seen as beneficial, not detrimental, to Washington’s interests. The Biden administration is advised to reconsider the stringent policies of former President Obama regarding India-Iran ties.

BROADER IMPLICATIONS

• Diversification of Interests: Chabahar should not be the sole focus of India-Iran relations, as overreliance is risky.
• Sanctions and Diplomacy: The U.S. should adopt a more accommodating stance on Chabahar sanctions, recognizing the broader strategic benefits for both India and the U.S., especially given the U.S.’s own diplomatic channels with Iran through intermediaries like Switzerland, Oman, and Qatar.