13 reasons why PM Modi's Iran visit is historic
The importance of Modi's Iran visit can be gauged from the fact that he is the first Indian PM to visit the Shia country in 15 years.
New Delhi,UPDATED: May 24, 2016 01:12 IST
"Our dosti is as old as history," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today after India inked key pacts with Iran, including that on development of the strategically important Chabahar port.
Chabahar can become a very big symbol of co-operation between Iran and India," Iranian President Hassan Rouhani pointed out while addressing a joint press conference with Modi in Tehran.
The importance of Modi's Iran visit can be gauged from the fact that he is the first Indian PM to visit the Shia country in 15 years.
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Also Read: India, Iran ink pact to develop Chabahar port; our dosti as old as history, says PM Modi
Here's why Modi's Iran visit is important:
- India and Iran signed a deal to develop the Chabahar port, situated less than 100 km from Pakistan's Gwadar port
- According to an estimate, India will be spending $500 million for the development of Chabahar port. The move is aimed at cutting down the importance of Pakistan's Gwadar port, built with China's help
- Once operational, the Chabahar port will help India bypass Pakistan and transport goods directly to Afghanistan and central Asia
- Located in south-east Iran, the Chabahar port will enable India to bypass Pakistan and open up a route to land-locked Afghanistan with which New Delhi has close security ties and economic interests. It will also open India's trade route to West Asia
- From Chabahar, the existing Iranian road network can link up to Zaranj in Afghanistan, about 883 km from the port
- The Zaranj-Delaram road constructed by India in 2009 can give access to Afghanistan's Garland Highway, setting up road access to four major cities in Afghanistan - Herat, Kandahar, Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif
- India has already spent $100 million building a 220-kilometre road in the Nimroz province of Afghanistan. The road will be extended to Chabahar
- India will no longer be dependent on Pakistan's permission to allow Indian trucks to Afghanistan through the Wagah border. Chabahar will help New Delhi's efforts to engage with Kabul directly both strategically and economically
- India and Iran had in 2003 agreed to develop Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman outside the Strait of Hormuz, near Iran's border with Pakistan
- However, the project moved slowly mainly because of sanction by the West, primarily the US, against Iran. The sanctions were lifted in January, 2016
- Chabahar Port is of a strategic importance to India. The port will help counter Chinese presence in the Arabian Sea. Chabahar is Indi's answer to China's Gwadar
- Can provide the diplomatic edge to India's ambition of developing a blue-water navy, India's partnership with Iran in Chabahar completes its strategic goal of encircling Pakistan as the port's development aims to bypass her in Afghanistan
- Chinese counter: The Chinese presence at Gwadar in Pakistan and threats posed by Kashgar-Gwadar corridor would be checked
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