Chabahar Port central to India's Central Asia connectivity strategy

India's Ministry of External Affairs has reaffirmed that the Chabahar Port is a vital component of its strategy to enhance connectivity with Central Asia. MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George stated that New Delhi aims to ensure the region has reliable, secure, and commercially viable access to India.

During a briefing ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visits to Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic, George emphasized that connectivity with Central Asia holds both historical and strategic dimensions. He noted that India is examining the feasibility of strengthening these links and will continue to monitor and advance the engagement.

Originally proposed in 2003, the development of Chabahar Port was intended to provide an alternative route for Indian goods to reach landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asia by bypassing Pakistan. The project is linked to the International North-South Transport Corridor, though progress has previously faced challenges due to international sanctions.