A few days before his death, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has given a gift to India which will always remind him of him. President Raisi was considered an important link in the strengthening relations between India and Iran. This month he gave a big gift to India in the form of Chabahar Port. Under this deal, India will look after the management of Shahid Beheshti Port Terminal in Chabahar, Iran. Through this deal, India will get an opportunity to increase trade with Middle East countries and this deal will remain valid for 10 years.
Lok Sabha Elections Meanwhile, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal went to Iran’s capital Tehran and signed the deal. He had to take permission from the Election Commission to go, which shows how important this deal is for India. India will invest $120 million for the port, while $250 million will be spent separately for infrastructure upgradation. In this way, a total of $37 crore will be spent on the deal. This is the first time that India has taken over the management of a port located abroad.
The deal was officially announced on May 13. This agreement has been signed between India Ports Global Limited and Iranian company Maritime Organization. The purpose of the deal is to prepare an alternative route for Afghanistan and Central Asian countries. Union Minister Sonowal said that with the signing of the deal, the government has laid the foundation for India’s long-term involvement in Chabahar. Also, the deal will see manifold expansion in the capacity of the port.
How was the foundation of Chabahar Port deal laid?
In 2003, India had proposed to Iran to develop the port. However, it was officially approved in 2015. In 2004 itself, a deal was signed between Pakistan and China to build Gwadar Port for $248 million. In 2016 also, an agreement was signed between India and Iran for the operation of the port. The latest deal is being considered a new version of the 2016 agreement, but now there will be no need to renew the deal every year.
PM Modi went to Iran in 2016
The deal was finalized in 2015 and it gained momentum in 2016. Prime Minister in 2016 for deal Narendra Modi He went to Iran and signed a deal with the then President Hassan Rouhani and former President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani. Under the deal, an agreement was reached to build a corridor which would be used by all three countries and Chabahar Port was made its centre. India was to invest $500 million for this project.
Iran had leased out Chabahar port in 2018.
Two ports were included in the Chabahar project – Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari. However, India had made the deal only for Shahid Beheshti Port. This route was used for the first time in the year 2017 and India sent wheat to Afghanistan from here. Last year also, 20,000 tonnes of wheat was sent from here to Afghanistan, while in 2021, India sent pesticides to Iran. Next year, Iran leased it out, that is, this port started being given on lease every 18 months. The work of the port is to be completed in four phases and it can be used to transport 82 million tonnes of goods.
Chabahar Port is part of the proposed International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). INSTC is a 7,200 km long multi-layered transport project to transport goods between India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.
Chabahar port is close to Gujarat and Mumbai
The Chabahar Port Agreement is extremely important for the national interests of the country, as it opens the way for attractive markets around the world. Also, the location of Chabahar is very special for India. It is being seen as a major connectivity for India to connect Afghanistan, Central Asia and European regions. With its help, India will also be helped in keeping an eye on Pakistan’s Gwadar Port and China’s Belt and Road. This port is 550 miles away from Kandla Port of Gujarat. Also it is close to Mumbai. In addition, it provides routes from Afghanistan, Central Asian countries and Europe.
India will be able to keep an eye on China’s activities from Chabahar Port
National Security Advisory Board Chairman PS Raghavan said that delivering goods to Afghanistan through Chabahar Port is easier than through Pakistani soil. He says that going through Pakistani land is more risky. He said that due to political, security and geographical reasons the routes to India through Pakistani land are closed. In such a situation, Chabahar Port is a better way to reach Afghanistan, Central Asia and European countries. He said that the project will help India in increasing trade relations with these countries.
Foreign Minister Dr.S. Jaishankar also emphasized that connectivity with Chabahar and Eurasian regions provides strategic and economic opportunities not only with Iran but also with other countries. Through Chabahar, India’s presence in the Persian Gulf will also increase and in this way it will be easier to keep an eye on China’s activities. Businessman Gautam Adani’s Adani Group is already operating Haifa Port in Israel.
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