Syllabus of the Subject: India-Chabahar (Iran)-Afghanistan Transport Corridor.
Introduction to the India-Chabahar (Iran)-Afghanistan Corridor;
Main characteristics of the India-Chabahar (Iran)-Afghanistan Corridor;
Chabahar-Zahedan-Bam-Hajigaj Railway;
Mashhad-Herat-Mazar-El-Sharif Railway;
Transit Trade Agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan;
Countries in the corridor's area of influence: Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan,
Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Russia, the United Arab
Emirates and Oman;
The India-Chabahar (Iran)
-Afghanistan Corridor connects India with Afghanistan through
Iran (Chabahar), linking the ports on the west coast of India (Ports
of Kandla and Mumbai) with the port of Chabahar. The road and rail
links between Chabahar and the Afghan border are covered by the Transit
Trade Agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan.
In 2017, two
containers were successfully transported by road from Mumbai (India) to Chabahar (Iran), crossing the Dogharoun border post in
Afghanistan under the cover of the TIR Carnets (TIR Convention).
The journey lasted seven days in total: five by sea and two by
road from the port of Chabahar in Iran to the final destination in
Afghanistan. In comparison, the traditional route from the Port of Bandar
Abbas in Iran is three to four days longer.
Pakistan, Oman and the United Arab Emirates are also in the area of influence of the India-Chabahar (Iran) -Afghanistan Corridor.
The India-Chabahar (Iran) -Afghanistan Corridor connects with the New
Silk Road
Port of Chabahar
The port of Chabahar is located on the Makran coast, in the province
of Sistan and Baluchistan in south-eastern Iran, at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, in the Gulf of Oman;
It consists of two ports (Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti);
Distances from Chabahar to:
Zahedan (capital of Sistan and Baluchistan provinces): 700 km;
Milak (the closest city to the Afghan border): 950 km;
Sarakhs (on the Turkmen border): 1,827 km;
Dubai: 654 kilometers;
Karachi (Pakistan): 845 km;
Mumbai (India): 1,560 km.
Being close to Afghanistan and the Central Asian countries (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan...) these landlocked countries are also called the "Golden Gate";
It is the only Iranian port with direct access to the Indian
Ocean.
The Chinese-funded deep-water Port of Gwadar (Pakistan) is in
direct competition with the port of Chabahar.
Chabahar-Zahedan-Bam-Hajigak Railway
India is finalising a plan to build the Chabahar-Zahedan-Hajigak
railway line (900 km) that will connect the Port of Chabahar with the Hajigak region of Afghanistan (very rich in minerals, the largest
Asian iron ore deposit);
The Chabahar-Zahedan railway section is also being developed, as
part of the North-South Transport Corridor.
Mashhad-Herat-Mazar-El-Sharif Railway
This railway route connects Mashhad (northeast of Iran) with Herat (northwest of Afghanistan), passing through Khaf, Sangan, Shamtiq (Iran-Afghanistan border);
In Herat there are links to Turkmenistan via rail and road routes;
In Mazar-El-Sharif there are links to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan via the railway, as well as via road routes to other Central Asian countries.
Transit Trade Agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan.
The trilateral transit agreement signed by India, Iran and Afghanistan
allows Indian products to arrive in Afghanistan through Iran.
On October 29, 2017, the trilateral transit route was implemented when the first shipment of wheat was shipped from India to Afghanistan via
Chabahar.
India will also develop several industries, including aluminum and urea
production plants, in the Chabahar economic zone located in the port.
Asian regional economic communities
related to the India-Chabahar (Iran)-Afghanistan Corridor