INDIA DROPPED FROM CHABAHAR PORT:WHAT'S AT STAKE?

Iran has decided to exclude India from strategic Chabahar rail project and it has come as massive setback for Indian foreign policy.There is intense speculation that Iran must have done this at the behest of China because it has recently offered strategic partnership to Iran which includes closed economy and military relations.So,we need to understand the strategic significance of Chabahar port and Bandar Abbas port in Iran.These ports in Iran are crucial for rail link project that seek to connect Iran with Central Asia because India's access to Chabahar port and rail project will help India to access the mineral rich Hajigak Iron ore region of Afghanistan where Indian mining companies have won Iron ore mining rights.

These ports of Iran and rail link projects are crucial to India because it will help India access to central Asian countries and even Europe through INSCP(international north south corridor project) which include India,Iran,Russia and Azerbaijan.These infrastructure project are also necessary for fulfilling the agreement of "Ashgabat project".In 2016,the proposal to admit India and Pakistan into the Ashgabat agreement was approved by the member and they formally entered into the grouping in 2018.See the proposal INSCP seeks to connect India,Russia and Europe by establishing an alternative route that passes through Iran.See the current trade route between India and Europe passes through Suez canal and Mediterranean sea which happens to be longer and more expensive route.So,in order to bypass this traditional route India and Russia has proposed the INSCP which includes Iran and Azerbaijan.This is multi model transport corridor that includes maritime transport which connects India with strategic ports of Iran such as Bandar Abbas and chabahar port.Here Road and rail network can transport the goods to the Caspian sea and through Azerbaijan the goods can be further transported to Russia and further to Eastern Europe and further to Western Europe.So,Iran location is centered to two project and it occupies the same central position under the proposed Ashgabat agreement.

So,in all these strategic project Iran plays a major role and Chabahar project,Bandar Abbas project and Chabahar rail project are critical links in these projects.Yes,its natural for India to feel excluded as it has decided to keep India out of the project.India might feel threatened to Iran's growing partnership with China but India will have to wait patiently and engage in quiet diplomacy with Iran. 

See,Iranian government has always been vary of close relation with China because Iran is very well aware of the China;s debt trap diplomacy and its approach to trade.Iran is well aware of the fact that a close economic partnership with China could lead to one way interest that could go against Iranian interest.That's why Iran has always tried to balance the extent of trade with China.But,now geopolitical tensions and ongoing tension with USA has forced Iran to seek closer economic partnership with China.Ever since DONALD TRUMP government decided to quit the joint comprehensive plan of action of Iranian nuclear deal,Iran has been brought into lot of pressure and assassination of IRG(Iranian Revolutionary Guard) commander Gen. Qasim Sulemani at the beginning of this year by USA and increase military deployment by USA in Persian gulf  near strait of Hormuz has further increased tension and it has brought Iran into lot of pressure.So,the only two countries which can help Iran to counter balance of balance the pressure are"CHINA" and "RUSSIA",which happens to be permanent member of UNSC.