Prime Minister Narendra Modi described India’s contract to operate the strategic Chabahar port in Iran as a significant milestone, highlighting its importance in promoting regional connectivity, trade, and commerce. In an interview with PTI, Modi emphasized that the Chabahar port would provide crucial access to landlocked Afghanistan and the Central Asia region, furthering India’s efforts to enhance regional connectivity.
Modi recounted that his government prioritized the Chabahar port since coming to power in 2014. A trilateral agreement between India, Iran, and Afghanistan was signed in 2016 during his visit to Iran, aimed at establishing connectivity to Afghanistan. An Indian company has been managing the port operations for the past few years, facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, including wheat, pulses, pesticides, and medical supplies.
The recent long-term agreement for the development of Chabahar port, signed on May 13, is expected to provide Indian goods with a gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia via the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). This corridor spans 7,200 kilometers of sea, rail, and road lines, connecting the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea through Iran, and extending to St. Petersburg and Northern Europe via Russia.
Modi noted that the INSTC and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor are integral to India’s vision of promoting connectivity, which is vital in the globalized world. He acknowledged the keen interest of Central Asian leaders in using the Chabahar port to access the sea and connect to India.
The long-term agreement for Chabahar port, involving Indian Ports Global Limited (IPGL) and the Port & Maritime Organisation of Iran, replaces an initial pact from 2016. IPGL will invest approximately USD 120 million, with an additional USD 250 million raised as debt.
The Chabahar port has been instrumental for India in providing aid and supplies. In the previous year, India used the port to send 20,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan and, in 2021, to supply environment-friendly pesticides to Iran. Modi reiterated India’s commitment to using this strategic port to enhance regional connectivity and economic integration, particularly for landlocked countries.
