Correct Option :
C) India will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
The Chabahar Port, located in Iran, provides India with a direct sea-land route to Afghanistan and Central Asian countries. This bypasses Pakistan, which has historically restricted India's overland access to these regions. The port is a crucial component of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and a trilateral agreement between India, Iran, and Afghanistan, facilitating transit and trade.
Incorrect Options:
A) India’s trade with African countries will enormously increase.
The primary strategic and economic advantage of Chabahar Port is its connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia, not directly to African countries. While it is located on the Gulf of Oman, its main purpose is to open up a new trade route to India's north-western neighbours.
B) India’s relations with oil-producing Arab countries will be strengthened.
Chabahar Port is in Iran, a non-Arab, Shia-majority nation. While India maintains relations with oil-producing Arab countries, the development of Chabahar Port does not primarily aim to strengthen these specific relationships. Its focus is on enhancing connectivity with Afghanistan and Central Asia.
D) Pakistan will facilitate and protect the installation of a gas pipeline between Iraq and India.
This statement is incorrect. The Chabahar Port project aims to reduce India's reliance on Pakistan for regional connectivity. Furthermore, there is no established plan for Pakistan to facilitate or protect a gas pipeline specifically between Iraq and India via this route. The port's strategic value lies in bypassing Pakistan, not collaborating with it on such infrastructure projects.
