In a strategic move to counter China's growing presence in the Indian Ocean region and Arabian Sea, India on Saturday announced that it will upgrade Iran's crucial Chabahar Port that gives a transit route to land-locked Afghanistan.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid conveyed this decision to Tehran during his ongoing three-day visit. An expert team from India will visit Iran to assess investment needed for the upgradation of the port on the Iran-Pakistan border. Sources said $100 million is required for the modernisation. This port is important for India in the context of China taking over Gwadar Port in Pakistan some months back and this port is about 80 km from Chabahar Port. It is surrounded by a free trade zone and is crucial, particularly since Pakistan does not allow transit facility from India to Afghanistan. PNS