The US pull-out from Afghanistan is not far away. It is necessary for India to strengthen strategic cooperation with Iran in these circumstances. Delhi’s efforts to gain access to Afghanistan through Iran are only timely. Of course, the plan will take time to be implemented but it will lead to expansion and modernization of a deep-sea water port in Chahabar on the eastern coast of Iran. It will be coupled with upgradation of a road link with Western Afghanistan. A trilateral agreement between Delhi, Tehran and Kabul on overland transit is also in view. The strategic importance of the project was first discussed during President Khomeini’s visit to Delhi in 2003. It is time India got over its vacillation regarding the Delhi-Tehran-Kabul link-up. That will be in the interest of all three. The US has sought Rawalpindi’s help to facilitate the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan. A political adjustment between the US and the Taliban looks likely. Together with that, Iran’s growing nuclear ambition has further complicated the scenario. India failed to get access to Afghanistan through Pakistan and that underscores the importance of an Iran route. China has recently acquired control over the Gwadar port in Pakistan which is only 70 KM away from Chahabar. The return of Pervez Musharraf to Pakistan for the country’s general election introduces another disturbing factor.
Officials of India, Iran and Afghanistan met in Tehran last year and mulled over the Chahabar port project. Delhi and Tehran will have to put their best foot forward to implement the project. The US supports India’s attempt to increase Afghan connectivity to the sea. The problem lies in Iran’s reluctance to open the doors and India’s failure to make a success of mega-projects abroad. India and Iran should now pull together in the same direction.
