North India Statesman
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A final agreement has been reached between India and Iran regarding Chabahar port. Chabahar will be India's first foreign port. Till now there was a deadlock between India and Iran on many issues regarding this port. India's presence at Chabahar port is being seen as a major geopolitical defeat for Pakistan. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has visited Iran several times to finalize the Chabahar port deal. India's biggest concern was the US sanctions against Iran. In such a situation, India has also taken America into confidence regarding the Chabahar Port Agreement. Through Chabahar, India will be able to deliver its goods to European countries and Central Asia as soon as possible. Consideration is also being made to demolish the Gwadar port in Pakistan, which was built with a loan from China.
Deal final between India and Iran
According to reports, India and Iran have reached the final agreement regarding Chabahar port. The new long-term contract is intended to replace the original contract. It covered India's operations at the Shahid Beheshti Terminal of Chabahar Port. Older contracts also require renewal every year. Now the new contract will be valid for 10 years and can be extended automatically. This is being described as a big geopolitical victory for India.
S Jaishankar solved the complex mystery!
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is in Iran for the Chabahar port deal. Before reaching Iran, he also discussed with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. In an update on Monday, Jaishankar said on Twitter that he had started by meeting Roads and Urban Development Minister Mehrdad Bazarpash in Tehran. “A detailed and meaningful discussion was held on establishing a long-term cooperation framework regarding Chabahar Port.”
Taliban also came together at Chabahar port
India is pushing for the Chabahar port project to boost regional trade. Particularly for its connectivity with Afghanistan since 2016, when the subcontinent signed a trilateral agreement with Iran and the now Taliban-led nation to develop a terminal. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at a connectivity conference in Tashkent in 2021 presented Chabahar port as a major regional transit hub, including with Afghanistan. In November 2023, Foreign Secretary Vinay Quatra discussed ways to increase connectivity with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
Why is Chabahar port important?
Chabahar port is also seen as the main hub of the INSTC project. The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a 7,200 km long multi-mode transport project to transport goods between India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe. India has pledged to invest $85 million in the terminal and has already provided cranes and other equipment worth several million dollars.
