Lost opportunity: On India losing Chabahar task

Right from the start of its tenure, the government has underlined the geostrategic significance it attaches to the Chabahar port task The task, checked in 2003, has been a symbol of traditionally crucial India-Iran ties. Connected by sea lanes to ports on India’s west coast, Chabahar would form the fulcrum of India’s outreach to Russia and Central Asia, enhancing connectivity, energy products and trade. Considered that Pakistan had actually obstructed Indian aid to Afghanistan and all trade over land, Chabahar supplied India an option to completely bypass its frustrating neighbour. As a result, the federal government fast-tracked plans for the task, and in 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained in Tehran to sign a trilateral trade and transit arrangement with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani. According to the MoUs, India would be granted a 10- year lease to develop and operate 2 terminals and 5 berths, access to the Chabahar free trade zone, and the opportunity to develop the 628 km rail line