Despite the potential hazards, however, the development of Chahabar and the transport links to it constitute an important part of. And without direct transport access, India cannot procure the Central Asian riches needed for its manufacturing economy. Given the scale of Gwadar, it is foolish to see the two ports as competitors. This is what Iran wants and what India should support.This is the largest Indian investment in that country and has ample scope for generating employment and meeting the needs of the country.

This has the potential for several times more trade via connectivity to the 7,200-km-long multi-mode North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), connecting to Europe and Turkey, and Trans-Siberian Highway across Russia, and the planned Herat to Mazar-e-Sharif railway, providing access to countries in Central Asia.Beyond India’s immediate concern in Afghanistan, Chabahar port is also important for the country since it opens the route to Central Asia with a promise of huge gains in trade.Chabahar port has the potential to be an essential economic and strategic corridor, linking India to Afghanistan and Central Asia.6 billion Chabahar-Zahedan railway built by India’s Ircon International, for which India pledged an additional $400 million.

Though it is much smaller with more modest aims than its more ambitious neighbour, Chabahar is also expected to open a new route to Central Asia and on to Russia and Europe. It also plans to send 30,000 troops to protect its China Titanium sponge investment, besides another 10,000 troops from Pakistan. Instead, as Iran has proclaimed, it is better to view them as “sisters” who complement each other. Better connectivity via Chabahar port and the planned roads and railways could multiply their trade figures with India several times.

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