Page 54 - Tehelka Issue 8&9

column
ASIAN DRAMA
Syed
NooruzzamaN
The columnist — former
Deputy Editor of The
Tribune, Chandigarh —
specialises in foreign
affairs. With a career
spanning 41 years, he
keeps close watch on
issues related to South
Asian countries. The
views expressed are
personal
54-55 Column-Nooruzzama.indd 2-3
Foreign aFFairs
Chabahar: China’s entry • Duty row India and Iran are in row
over $30 million of excise duties on
port equipment imported into Tehran
may hurt India’s interests
particularly in Asia can come
handy to New Delhi to create
New Delhi needs be cautious as it is almost certain that cash-rich insurmountable roadblocks for
China may try to dominate the strategically significant port through China in Afghanistan, though
not an easy task. But the US will
a huge investment in the project to primarily belittle India’s gain have to be more forthcoming
to side with India to protect
New Delhi’s strategic and other
ndia is faced with a new challenge and power projects, is set to outshine interests in Kabul.
from China, hungry for expanding European Union (EU) nations and Rus- The significance of Iran for
its influence in South Asia and the sia in making investments in Iran. It India’s interests in Afghanistan
surrounding areas. India’s pledge suits Iran too to have increased invest- and Central Asian republics
for $500 million investment to ment presence from China, Russia, the cannot be underestimated. In-
I develop Iran’s strategically and EU or any other country to create a kind dia will have to ignore US pres-
economically significant Chabahar of shield to protect it from adventurist sure tactics not to go as closer
port is going to be overshadowed with military campaigns by the US or its allies to Teheran as the situation
China, on invitation from Iran, likely to like Israel. demands. For India, proximity
express its readiness to associate itself According to the chief of Iran’s to both Washington and Tehe-
in a big way with the project. China’s Organization for Investment, Economic ran will have to be maintained
CITIC Group, a state-owned invest- and Technical Assistance, Mohammad intelligently to send across the
ment agency, recently offered Iran a Khazaie, direct investments in Iran by most of the sanctions imposed on message that India under all kinds
$10 billion credit line and the China Chinese companies rose by 20 per cent Iran were lifted, but not without China’s aid to Iran of circumstances will not allow its
Development Bank is in the process of during the period March 2014-January reason. India will have to keep its own in the development interests to be compromised.
providing $15 billion additional funds to 2018. The trade volume between the two interests in view while taking any step of different kinds India may face trouble in the case
Teheran. A part of Beijing’s $124 billion countries, which grew by 22 per cent in to cement its ties with Teheran. of Iran if the US withdraws itself from
Belt and Road initiative, this is, perhaps, 2017, is expected to go up to $50 billion Of course, it is Iran’s “prerogative” of infrastructural the 2015 nuclear deal with Teheran
the largest investment commitment by in 2018 from $40 billion in 2017. to choose its partners, but India’s and involving other Western pow-
any foreign country in the Persian Gulf Iran, however, says, “The prior- interests should not be allowed to facilities such as ers. Iran has been warning the world
nation, freed from crippling economic ity is with the Indians — they’ve been be affected under all circumstances. highways, railways community that if the US indulges
sanctions in 2015 following a nuclear involved and came forward first (2003). Will Teheran be able to ensure it? in this irresponsible behaviour and
deal with the US and its European allies. But if another investor comes along Whatever Iran may claim, China can and power projects withdraws itself from the nuclear
Though Iran has declared that its and is interested in Chabahar, there is be expected to use every tactic it can is set to outshine deal, though aimed at capping Tehe-
offer to China and Pakistan to provide certainly enough space and opportu- think of to create problems for India ran’s nuclear power facilities, there
all kinds of assistance for developing nity for them and for their investment.” in the region and beyond. EU and Russia may be the possibility of an exchange
Chabahar to bring it to the level of Paki- Obviously, Iran has invited China after China’s entry into Chabahar of hot words getting revived between
stan’s Gwadar port will not affect India’s making considerable calculations as will not be only for trade purposes. the US and Teheran. In such a sce-
association with this project, New Delhi it has given hints that it does not want Experts believe that Beijing will not which is going to be extended to nario, if it emerges all, India will have
cannot accept the development without Chabahar-linked cooperation remain- hesitate to use the Iranian port for Afghanistan. New Delhi will have to to tread the path with a lot of caution.
concern. It is almost certain that cash- ing limited to India. surveillance purposes as it will do convince Afghanistan that Chinese Since Teheran is also involved in
rich China may try to dominate Chaba- Though India has invested in devel- from Pakistan’s Gwadar port and increased presence in the war-torn the West Asian war theatre and fight-
har through a huge investment in the oping two terminals at the port which those which have come up with Chi- country may help Pakistan to keep ing against Sunni Arab countries like
project to primarily belittle India’s gain. have become operational and are being nese financial assistance in Myanmar, troubling Kabul through Islamabad’s Saudi Arabia in Syria, it would be a
Iran too will welcome Chinese invest- used for the supply of different kinds of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. In fact, it is Taliban proxies so long as Afghanistan major diplomatic challenge for India
ment in the port project to any extent items to Afghanistan and Central Asian believed that China may find a way to refuses itself to be used by Pakistan to protect its interests by maintaining
as it wishes to see it emerge as a major countries, New Delhi and Teheran have have its military presence in all these for the latter’s strategic interests. friendly relations with both camps.
port as Pakistan’s Gwadar, developed been involved in issues like a two-year- ports, a very disturbing development, It must be mentioned here that New Delhi, therefore, cannot side
exclusively by the Chinese. The distance old dispute over whether India would indeed, for India. India has been protesting against openly with any of the countries
between the two ports is hardly 72 km. pay $30 million of excise duties on port India will have to prepare itself the CPEC idea as it passes through involved in the civil war in Syria and
China, aiding Iran in the develop- equipment imported into Iran. There to meet the Chinese threat through Pakistan-held Kashmir. The US the rest of West Asia.
ment of different kinds of infrastruc- have also allegedly been investment- these ports as also from the China- growing interests in India to coun-
tural facilities like highways, railways related delays even after 2015, when Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), ter Chinese expansionist designs letters@tehelka.com
Tehelka / 15 may 2018 54 www.Tehelka.com Tehelka / 15 may 2018 55 www.Tehelka.com
02/05/18 5:46 PM