In a major power play, India begins the process to make Chabahar becoming an economic hub for neighboring countries. Which has the potential to become a major game-changer for India’s effort to isolate Pakistan and contain its influence on Afghanistan.

Chabahar Port is a seaport in Chabahar located in southeastern Iran, on the Gulf of Oman. It serves as Iran’s only oceanic port and consists of two separate ports named Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti, each of which has five berths. Landlocked Afghanistan has no seaports, but the Amu Darya river, which forms part of the nation’s border with Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, does have substantial traffic.

Importance of Chabahar Port and isolation of Pakistan :

Afghanistan has to rely on Pakistan for essential goods. But not until India’s generous support to make Afghanistan independent of Pakistan. In 2016, India signed a deal with Iran entailing $8 billion investment in Chabahar port and industries in Chabar Special Economic Zone, including an aluminum smelter and a urea making facility, at Chabahar port is being developed as a transit route to Afghanistan and Central Asia. India has already built a 240-km road connecting Afghanistan with Iran.

The bilateral agreement between India and Iran gives India the right to develop two berths of the Chabahar port as agreed in 2015 and allows them to be operated for 10 years.

India’s Master Stroke :

India continues to play its generous role in keeping the region out of terrorism emanating from Pakistan. Earlier India held its first trilateral meeting with Iran and Uzbekistan to boost regional connectivity with Chabahar Port. Another meeting led by India is already in the making, this time with Afghanistan.

The Ministry of External Affairs of India, Anurag Srivastava has confirmed that India will host the next trilateral meet on Chabahar. He added that Afghanistan is also invited to join the meet on Chabahar he added.

Chabahar Port to become a regional connectivity hub:

The initiative spearheaded by India will open up many possibilities. The first could be to link the economies of neighboring countries. Next to provide an alternative to China’s sinister trap called ‘Belt and Road Initiative

India to gain more direct access to central Asia:

With Joe Biden about to take over the world’s most powerful position as the US President. India might expect a much positive and less aggressive approach by the US towards Iran. Giving a major boost for Indian investors to refocus on Chabahar Port development projects. At least for the next four years or so.

India might able to achieve the regional integration of the central Asian countries without Pakistan. The Pakistani establishment is under serious pressure to stop India’s ever-growing influence. Pakistan is facing a serious issue in the region and internationally. Being slammed for using state-sponsored terrorism against the countries in the region to gain influence.

India has constantly maintained that takes with Pakistan will not happen until terrorism stops. Talks and Terror will not go hand in hand with Pakistan anymore. Looks like the world has taken the same position as what India took up with Pakistan and its Pakistan Army establishment.

A great game is been played by India for sure