Why in News?
Afghanistan’s Acting Commerce Minister has urged India to expand the use of Chabahar Port to keep trade routes functional and competitive, which is critical for Afghanistan’s access to the sea, bypassing Pakistan, and for India’s connectivity to Central Asia.
Description:
Location:
- Located in Sistan and Baluchistan province, South-eastern Iran, on the Makran Coast.
- Lies on the Gulf of Oman and outside the Strait of Hormuz → strategically important during geopolitical disruptions.
- Only deep-sea port of Iran with direct ocean access.
Rail line from Chabahar port to Zahedan along the border with Afghanistan. Zaranj-Delaram Highway in Afghanistan is a 215 km long highway that was already built in Afghanistan through assistance provided by India.
Structure of the Port:
- Chabahar Port consists of two terminals:
- Shahid Beheshti Terminal (India is involved mainly here)
- Shahid Kalantari Terminal
Strategic Importance for India:
- Provides direct connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia bypassing Pakistan.
- Enhances India’s role in regional connectivity, energy linkages, and trade with Eurasia.
- Supports India’s efforts to counterbalance Gwadar Port (Pakistan–China).
Chabahar & INSTC:
- Chabahar is part of the proposed International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
- INSTC:
- 7,200 km long multi-modal transportation network (ship–rail–road).
- Connects Indian Ocean & Persian Gulf → Iran → Caspian Sea → Russia → Northern Europe (via St. Petersburg).
- Reduces freight cost and travel time compared to the Suez Canal route.
Additional Connectivity:
- India has indicated that air freight corridors between
- Kabul–Delhi and
- Kabul–Amritsar
are being activated to expand trade connectivity.
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