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India's Chabahar agreement: A gateway to Central Asian markets

India&#**;s trade relations with Iran and Central Asia have gained prominence with the recent news of India&#**;s **-year contract to develop and operate the Iranian port of Chabahar. Despite the looming threat of US sanctions on India&#**;s business dealings, the port is expected to have a multiplier effect on trade.

The Chabahar port acts as a pivot to the ambitious International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which plans to connect India, Iran, and Russia. The INSTC is a multi-modal, cost and time-effective route from India to Northern and Western Europe. It has the potential to enhance India’s connectivity with Central Asia and the Eurasian Region, considering the geo-strategic and economic importance of all the involved countries.