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Chabahar Port is situated in the Gulf of Oman and is 72 km away from Gwadar Port of Pakistan, the latter developed by China, serving as the only oceanic Port in Iran. The Port is divided into two separate ports, Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari, each of which has five berths.
During the Iraq-Iran War, the port’s first phase was started in 1983. Chabahar Port restricted Chinese presence in the Arabian Sea. However, as the Port is close to Gwadar Port of Pakistan which China has developed, China is still a little active in the Port. As ports are being developed and operated by India, Iran can further act as a support to India.
Historical development of Chabahar Port
The last Shah of Iran started the evolution of the Port in 1973. However, its development was set back by the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The first-stage port was operational during the Iraq-Iran War in 1983.
In 1977, the Shah was bankrupt and was torn between western oil companies and OPEC over oil prices which delayed the construction of the Port. Later in 1979, the Shah was defeated and was brought down by the Iranian Revolution.
Soon after the Iranian Revolution, the overseas companies left their projects, and Iranian companies came into force. Chabahar Port received logistical and strategic value during the Iraq-Iran War. Further war brought vulnerability to the Strait of Hormuz as ships could enter the Persian Gulf, which made Chabahar an important port during this period.
Through the Shahid Beheshti Port, India and Iraq agreed to organize further development. In 2016, the Port had ten berths. In May 2016, a bilateral agreement was signed between India and Iraq, which allowed India to develop one of the berths of Shahid Beheshti port and rebuild a 600 m long container that would handle facilities at the Port as the Port is an alternative path of trade between India and Afghanistan.
India first shipped wheat to Afghanistan in October 2017 through the Port, and it was exactly after a year in October 2018 when India took over the operation of the Port.
Two parts of Chabahar Port
The two complex ports into which Chabahar Port is further divided are:
Shahid Beheshti port
Shahid Kalantari port
Shahid Beheshti port
The total area of Shahid Beheshti Port is 254 hectares, out of which the open storage area is 16 hectares, and the warehouse is 30000 square meters.
Being a Traffic Port, it plays the role of a regional Hub port through various developments and transformations.
Shahid Kalantari port
This Port has a total area of 30 hectares, out of which the open storage area is 35000 square meters. The warehouses cover 3000 square meters, and the container yard area covers 40000 square meters.
As per the development strategy of the Port, which is to be completed by 2024, the very first phase of development was aimed to be completed by the beginning of 2017, which would further enhance the nominal capacity of the Port to over 8.5 million tons per year.
India and Chabahar Port relations
India, Iraq, and Afghanistan agreed to a trilateral agreement that necessitated the foundation of the Transit and Transport Corridor between all the three countries using the Chabahar Route as it is one of the major hubs of sea transportation.
The establishment of a railway line from the Chabahar Port to Zahedan, which is in line with Afghanistan acting as a substitute trade route to Central Asia and Afghanistan, is also discussed.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was agreed between Indian Railways Construction and the Iranian Rail Ministry, which stated that India would facilitate all superstructure work, services, and financing regarding the construction.
Later in July 2020, due to delays from India, Iran had to proceed with railway construction. However, according to India, there was a delay from Iran’s side in providing proper authority.
Further, after settling the dispute, India first shipped wheat to Afghanistan in October 2017, and after a year in 2018, India successfully operated Chabahar Port.
Significance of Chabahar for India
Trade: The Port serves as an entry point to a golden gate of opportunities for trade by three countries where Pakistan was limiting access and reduction in the shipment of India in trading
Connectivity: By complementing each other, Chabahar Route and INSTC will connect India to Eurasia and Russia for trade and development.
Security: With Chabahar Port’s presence, India resists the Chinese presence and interference in the reduction of shipment in the Arabian Sea, which China is trying to counter by helping Pakistan rebuild Gwadar port.
With Chabahar Port being a trade hub, the import of rice, sugar, and iron ore to India will improve.
Iran is slowly becoming a military ally to India as India’s Chabahar Port is being developed and executed.
It is of great importance to India if China moulds its naval power using Gwadar Port to dominate the Indian Ocean.
For India, the Port also acts as a private sector investment. India invites private companies to invest in equipment, such as cranes and tractors, used to develop Chabahar Port.
As an upcoming power, it is difficult for India to be restricted to South Asia; hence, in the expansion of energy security and trade, Chabahar Port is necessary. Further, all these activities will help India in becoming an upcoming superpower.
Conclusion
During the Iraq-Iran War, the first phase of Chabahar Port was started in 1983. It was later bifurcated into two separate ports, Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti, each of which has five berths.
In a trilateral agreement, India, Iran, and Afghanistan agreed to use the Port for transportation. India agreed to provide services and financing to the Iranian Rail Ministry due to a conflict. In July 2020, Iran proceeded on its own. However, in October 2017, India, for the first time, exported wheat to Afghanistan with the help of the Chabahar route. Later in 2018, India operated the Chabahar port.
Chabahar port acts as a bypass for Pakistan in trading with Afghanistan and helps India overlook the presence of China in the Arabian Sea. It acts as a place of defence in case China flexes its naval powers in the Indian Ocean. It also helps India in trade, connectivity, and the realisation of its goal of becoming a superpower.
