New Delhi, June 16, IRNA -- a retired general of the Indian Army believes that the recent visit of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Iran will transform the architecture and geo-politics of the West Asia.


In an exclusive interview with IRNA here, Major General (retired) Gagandeep Bakshi said, “It is only with Prime Minister Modi’s just concluded visit to Iran and the signing of the Trilateral Transit & Trade agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan that we see the emerging contours of an Indian Strategic response to Gwader. To counter the Chinese silk road belt way from Gilgit to Gwader, we will now construct the Chahbahar-Zahedan-Dilaram version of the Indian silk road to Afghanistan and Central Asia. Modi’s visit has been a historical landmark that actually seeks to transform the regional architecture and geo-politics of this area.”

Elaborating on the India’s main objectives from signing of the Chabahar Agreement with Iran, he said: “The primary strategic aim is to loosen Pakistan’s stranglehold upon the long suffering state of Afghanistan. Above all, it serves to reduce Pakistan strangle hold over Afghanistan. If push comes to shove in that most unfortunate land, this beltway will enable India to militarily come to the aid of Afghanistan by putting boots on the ground- if needed and asked for.”

“Hence, in realistic terms, the outreaches to Japan and Iran form the two most significant strategic initiatives of the Modi govt. These have served to carve out new regional balances and will enable India to act west with the help of Iran and east with the help of Japan,” Said Major General Bakshi who is also editor of the Indian defence magazine Indian Military Review (IMR).

Listing the major takeaways of India from the visit, the seasoned analyst of the world affairs said, “India will spend some 500 million dollars to create berthing, cargo and container facilities in Chahabahar. India Ports Global will create 640 meters of berthing facilities, 2 containers berths and 3 multi cargo berths. It will take 18 months to complete the phase 1 but the Indian companies must go flat out to deliver concrete results well ahead of schedule.

“To create the beltway, India will spend 1.6 Billion dollars to build a rail road from Chahbahar Port to Zahedan on the Afghan border. This will link up with the Zaranj-Dilaram road that connects with the Afghan ring road Network.”

Elaborating on the other Indian project in Chabahar, Major General Bakshi said, “In the Chahbahar Free Trade Zone Area, the Indian Aluminum company of Nalco will establish a 0.5 million tons Aluminum Smelter plant if it gets the feed stock gas at a reasonable price. Each year, India spends some Rs 450 Billion on subsidies for Urea to our farmers. MOUs have been signed to produce Urea in the Chahbahar Free Trade Area, If they get gas at less than 2 per million BTU.”

Insisting on completion of the Chabahar Project on time, General Bakshi said, 'India is now on test. A large number of our projects in foreign countries have encountered time and cost overruns. These have dented our reputation somewhat. This Iranian project must become our show piece and we must strive to complete it in record time.”

By IRNA