India is steering a tricky path through US allies and foes in South Asia

pulse

November 7, 2017 10:46 PM

India is working with India to develop a trade route to Afghanistan — and the US appears resigned to their cooperation.

India is working with Iran to develop and overland route to Afghanistan.
The US, which wants India's help in Afghanistan, appears to have accepted that India and Iran will have some kind of relationship going foward.
India is also trying to build influence around the Indian Ocean.

Just days after the first shipment of Indian wheat arrived in the southeastern Iranian port of Chabahar on its way to Afghanistan, Indian officials said they were in talks with Tehran to begin interim operations at the port.

India's activity at Chabahar is more than a decade in the making, but the country now finds itself steering between its own rival in Pakistan and an arch US foe in Iran in order to reach Afghanistan, where the Trump administration is eager to see New Delhi offer economic and security assistance.

India's and Afghanistan's foreign ministers heralded the first of seven shipments of 1.1 million metric tons of wheat headed to the latter country.

"They recognize that for India, Iran is more about a transport corridor to Afghanistan; that it has no interest in advancing Iran’s agenda in the Middle East; and that whatever space India evacuates there will be filled by China," Smith said.

Balancing against China in the Indian and Pacific Oceans is an important goal for the US and India, but perhaps more so for India.

China has in recent years developed a string of bases and ports along the Indian Ocean coast and signed on to infrastructure deals with countries in the region — ranging from Bangladesh to Myanmar to Sri Lanka to Pakistan to Djibouti.

India appears to be taking a more muscular approach to defending its interests in the region, expanding its weapons purchases — particularly of naval armaments — and investing in its domestic defense industry.

While India remains wary of Chinese activity along their shared northern border, its attention now appears to be turning to its southern, maritime approaches.

told

pulse

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng