Congress terms Chabahar port neglect a strategic setback to India’s diplomacy
New Delhi: In India, the opposition Congress party has termed the sidelining of the Chabahar Port project as a major strategic setback to the country’s Central Asian diplomacy, criticizing the Modi government for its failure to sustain key regional initiatives.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the apparent exclusion of Chabahar port from India’s 2026–27 budget indicates either a withdrawal from the project or lack of strategic clarity. He said the development marks the second major setback after India’s closure of its air force base in Ayni, Tajikistan, weakening New Delhi’s regional outreach.
Ramesh criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what he described as failure to maintain continuity in governance, alleging that earlier initiatives launched under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were repackaged without long-term commitment. He recalled that India had approved initial investment in Chabahar in 2013 as part of a trilateral cooperation strategy with Iran and Afghanistan.
The Congress leader said the apparent stagnation of the project undermines India’s strategic positioning in the region, particularly in view of the proximity of Gwadar Port, developed by China. He added that failure to advance such initiatives reflects poorly on India’s regional diplomacy and raises questions about its long-term foreign policy direction.
