CHABAHAR PORT (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 - IR)

Context: In a move aimed at boosting India-Iran commercial relations, Iran and India have agreed to drop the clause for arbitration in foreign courts concerning the Chabahar port, which had been a hurdle for the framing of a long-term agreement around the facility.

Chabahar Port

• Meaning: Chabahar is made of Persian words Chahar meaning four; and bahar meaning spring. 

• Chabahar city is also home to Iran’s only deep-seaport with direct access to the ocean.

• Location: Off the Gulf of Oman in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan & is the only Iranian port with direct access to the ocean.

• Consist of two ports: Chabahar Port consists of two separate ports called Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti. 

• Significance: Important for its fishery sector and will act as an important trade center connecting South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. 

• Significance for India

• Gateway to Central Asia and beyond: The port gives access to the energy-rich Persian Gulf nations' southern coast & Central Asia and India can bypass Pakistan with the Chabahar port becoming functional.

• Access to Afghanistan: The International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) allowed India to trade with the outside world via Iran, but India could not do so with Afghanistan (not a member of INSTC) in spite of being a very close neighbor.

• Strategic Importance: Due to its location in the Gulf of Oman and at the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz and enables Iran to have direct entry to the Indian Ocean.

• Chabahar Port is also quite near the Gwadar Port of Pakistan being developed by China.
• It will also counter the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).