02-17-2018, 11:27 PM
*** 18-Feb-18 World View -- Iran gives operational control of its Chabahar seaport to India
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
****
**** Iran gives operational control of its Chabahar seaport to India
****
![[Image: g160524b.jpg]](http://Media.GenerationalDynamics.com/ww2010/g160524b.jpg)
Map displaying the trade routes related to the Chabahar and Gwadar ports. Purple lines show China's trade routes through Gwadar, while red lines show India's planned trade routes through Chabahar. (Defence.pk)
During a visit by Iran's president Hassan Rouhani to India on
Saturday, Rouhani and India's prime minister witnessed the signing of
nine agreements to expand bilateral economic ties, with focus on the
development and utilization of Iran's strategic Chabahar Port. Iran
would grant operational control of a portion of the port to India for
18 months.
In return, India has agreed to invest an initial $87 million growing
to a total of $2 billion in the Chabahar and in the Chabahar-Zahedan
railroad linking the port to the Trans-Iranian railway and to other
cities in Iran, connecting from there to Afghanistan, Central Asia,
and Eastern Europe.
The use of the Chabahar is considered to be a major "game-changer" for
India's economy and defense. Any land route from India to Afghanistan
and Central Asia is blocked by Pakistan and China. The route from
India's Kandla seaport to Chabahar and then overland to Afghanistan
and Central Asia would not be as good as a pure land route, but it's
better than anything that's been available up till now.
Chabahar is also a counter to China's development of the Gwadar port
in Pakistan, shown by the large purple star in the map above. The
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), coupled with China's One
Belt-One Road (OBOR), is seen by Indian defense analysts as a major
security threat. The purple lines in the map above show China's
traditional trade routes across the sea, using China's "String of
Pearls" port facilities (purple stars), while the red lines show the
trade routes being planned using Iran's Chabahar port. Mehr News (Iran) and Business Standard (India) and VOA and India Defense Review (20-Mar-2017)
****
**** Comparing Iran's Chabahar seaport vs Pakistan's Gwadar seaport
****
A number of analysts have been comparing the two seaports. Although
the Chabahar port is considered to be of great strategic importance to
India, the general consensus seems to be that Pakistan's Gwadar port
will serve China's needs far better than Iran's Chabahar port will
serve India's needs.
The two ports are about 90 km apart. However, unlike Chabahar, Gwadar
is better strategically located in the Indian Ocean, so that India
vessels would also be subject to the active monitoring by Pakistan's
navy and probably China's navy.
Gwadar seaport is much larger, thanks to Gwardar's natural layout and
depth. The maximum planned capacity of Chabahar is 10-12 million tons
per year, while that of Gwadar will be 300-400 million tons.
Resource-rich Afghanistan is an important trading partner for both
Iran and Pakistan. However, Pakistan is aligned with the Taliban,
while Iran is aligned with the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance. This
will raise security issues for Pakistan and Iran, and therefore for
China and India.
Security is a major issue for both ports. Chabahar is located in one
of Iran’s most volatile regions, frequently attacked by the
Taliban-linked Jundullah terror group. Gwadar is located in
Pakistan's Balochistan province which has also been targeted by
Taliban-linked terrorists, as well as by a Baloch insurgency.
Iran has special issues related to the US and the Iran nuclear deal,
which is opposed by the Donald Trump administration. The US has
threatened additional sanctions on Iran, and those sanctions to
conflict with India's investments in Chabahar. However, US Secretary
of State Rex Tillerson, visiting New Delhi recently, assured India
that even if America re-imposes sanctions on Iran in the coming days,
it will exempt the Chabahar facility.
As regular readers are aware, Generational Dynamics predicts that in
the approaching Clash of Civilizations world war, the "axis" of China,
Pakistan and the Sunni Muslim countries will be pitted against the
"allies," the US, India, Russia and Iran. The Chabahar seaport deal
moves these countries another step closer to that alignment. Asia Times
and World News Report (India) and Bloomberg Quint and Diplomat and Indian Express (25-Nov-2017)
Related Articles
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Iran, Chabahar seaport, India, Hassan Rouhani,
Pakistan, Gwadar seaport, China, Narendra Modi,
Chabahar-Zahedan railroad, Afghanistan, Central Asia,
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, CPEC,
One Belt One Road, OBOR, Balochistan, Jundullah,
Rex Tillerson
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- Iran gives operational control of its Chabahar seaport to India
- Comparing Iran's Chabahar seaport vs Pakistan's Gwadar seaport
****
**** Iran gives operational control of its Chabahar seaport to India
****
Map displaying the trade routes related to the Chabahar and Gwadar ports. Purple lines show China's trade routes through Gwadar, while red lines show India's planned trade routes through Chabahar. (Defence.pk)
During a visit by Iran's president Hassan Rouhani to India on
Saturday, Rouhani and India's prime minister witnessed the signing of
nine agreements to expand bilateral economic ties, with focus on the
development and utilization of Iran's strategic Chabahar Port. Iran
would grant operational control of a portion of the port to India for
18 months.
In return, India has agreed to invest an initial $87 million growing
to a total of $2 billion in the Chabahar and in the Chabahar-Zahedan
railroad linking the port to the Trans-Iranian railway and to other
cities in Iran, connecting from there to Afghanistan, Central Asia,
and Eastern Europe.
The use of the Chabahar is considered to be a major "game-changer" for
India's economy and defense. Any land route from India to Afghanistan
and Central Asia is blocked by Pakistan and China. The route from
India's Kandla seaport to Chabahar and then overland to Afghanistan
and Central Asia would not be as good as a pure land route, but it's
better than anything that's been available up till now.
Chabahar is also a counter to China's development of the Gwadar port
in Pakistan, shown by the large purple star in the map above. The
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), coupled with China's One
Belt-One Road (OBOR), is seen by Indian defense analysts as a major
security threat. The purple lines in the map above show China's
traditional trade routes across the sea, using China's "String of
Pearls" port facilities (purple stars), while the red lines show the
trade routes being planned using Iran's Chabahar port. Mehr News (Iran) and Business Standard (India) and VOA and India Defense Review (20-Mar-2017)
****
**** Comparing Iran's Chabahar seaport vs Pakistan's Gwadar seaport
****
A number of analysts have been comparing the two seaports. Although
the Chabahar port is considered to be of great strategic importance to
India, the general consensus seems to be that Pakistan's Gwadar port
will serve China's needs far better than Iran's Chabahar port will
serve India's needs.
The two ports are about 90 km apart. However, unlike Chabahar, Gwadar
is better strategically located in the Indian Ocean, so that India
vessels would also be subject to the active monitoring by Pakistan's
navy and probably China's navy.
Gwadar seaport is much larger, thanks to Gwardar's natural layout and
depth. The maximum planned capacity of Chabahar is 10-12 million tons
per year, while that of Gwadar will be 300-400 million tons.
Resource-rich Afghanistan is an important trading partner for both
Iran and Pakistan. However, Pakistan is aligned with the Taliban,
while Iran is aligned with the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance. This
will raise security issues for Pakistan and Iran, and therefore for
China and India.
Security is a major issue for both ports. Chabahar is located in one
of Iran’s most volatile regions, frequently attacked by the
Taliban-linked Jundullah terror group. Gwadar is located in
Pakistan's Balochistan province which has also been targeted by
Taliban-linked terrorists, as well as by a Baloch insurgency.
Iran has special issues related to the US and the Iran nuclear deal,
which is opposed by the Donald Trump administration. The US has
threatened additional sanctions on Iran, and those sanctions to
conflict with India's investments in Chabahar. However, US Secretary
of State Rex Tillerson, visiting New Delhi recently, assured India
that even if America re-imposes sanctions on Iran in the coming days,
it will exempt the Chabahar facility.
As regular readers are aware, Generational Dynamics predicts that in
the approaching Clash of Civilizations world war, the "axis" of China,
Pakistan and the Sunni Muslim countries will be pitted against the
"allies," the US, India, Russia and Iran. The Chabahar seaport deal
moves these countries another step closer to that alignment. Asia Times
and World News Report (India) and Bloomberg Quint and Diplomat and Indian Express (25-Nov-2017)
Related Articles
- Iran-India sign 'historic' Chabahar port deal to counter Pakistan-China (25-May-2016)
- India begins shipping wheat to Afghanistan through Iran's Chabahar port (30-Oct-2017)
- China launches 'One Belt One Road', raising objections and violent protests (14-May-2017)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Iran, Chabahar seaport, India, Hassan Rouhani,
Pakistan, Gwadar seaport, China, Narendra Modi,
Chabahar-Zahedan railroad, Afghanistan, Central Asia,
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, CPEC,
One Belt One Road, OBOR, Balochistan, Jundullah,
Rex Tillerson
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
