19 Mar 2024
Saturday 28 May 2016 - 22:30
Story Code : 215931

Iran should become fourth leg in China-India-Russia bloc

India should put its money where its mouth is and channel investment into infrastructure like Chabahar Port and a fully secure Zaranj-Delaram Highway, which will provide connectivity to both Afghanistan and Central Asia.





Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit toTehran this week may have been late incoming; it did hold the promise ofproviding solidity tothe relationship. The problem insuch Indo-Iranian overtures that has prevented a good relationship betweenthe countries has been that it has never really evolved beyondflirtation. The breakthrough that came inthe engagement arrived almost two decades ago underPrime Minister Narasimha Rao.
Since then, New Delhi has always exhibited trepidation when visiting Tehrany, worrying that the USA ('Big Brother') could be watching, hoping tothwart Indo-Iranian relations. The brilliant idea ofdeveloping Chabahar Port and using its facilities toconnect geo-strategically toCentral Asia onthe one side and North West Asia onthe other evolved duringRaos government.


But ever since, the idea has only bounced betweenvarious government desks withoutseeing much effort tobring it tofruition. However, the partnership did help both Iran and India maintain a foothold inAfghanistan when the Taliban was incharge and threatened both countries. The Northern Alliance ofTajiks and Uzbeks inthe far northern province ofAfghanistan was materially supported byIndia and Iran viaIranian territory.

Not surprisingly, Modis visit toTehran happened a couple ofmonths afterhis visit toRiyadh. The political mess inWest Asia also has an element ofthe competition betweenIran and Saudi Arabia forpolitical and economic supremacy inthe region. This adds a significant sectarian angle tounderstanding the ongoing conflicts inthe region.
Hence, Prof AK Pasha, the well-known expert onthe region atJawaharlal Nehru University, describes the engagement as uneven. He says that Indias increasingly deep involvement withthe USA and Israel makes Tehran suspicious.


However, Narendra Modi delivered vaulting rhetoric inthe Iranian capital India and Iran have always been partners and friends. Our historical ties may have seen their share ofups and downs. But, throughoutour partnership, it has remained a source ofboundless strength forboth ofus. The time has come forus toregain the pastglory oftraditional ties and links. The time has come forus tomarch together. In this endeavor, you, the eminent scholars, have a defining role toplay.
On another occasion ata media event, Modi had also stated, Later today we are going tosign the trilateral Transport and Transit Agreement withthe participation ofIran, India and Afghanistan. It will be a historic occasion. It will open new routes forIndia, Iran and Afghanistan toconnect amongthemselves. India and Iran also share a crucial stake inthe peace, stability and prosperity ofthe region. We also have shared concerns atthe spread offorces ofinstability, radicalism and terror inour region.


Still, asProf Pasha points out, the much hyped Iran-Pakistan-India natural gas pipeline remains still-born even though Iran had really pushed the project hard toreach India. After New Delhis feet-dragging foryears withthe American sanctions inmind the pipeline is now an I-P project other I missing.


By Sputnik
https://theiranproject.com/vdcaemnu649n6o1.tgk4.html
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