India’s Eurasia Connectivity and Tajikistan's Engagement with Iran

India is enhancing its Eurasia connectivity with a significant development involving Tajikistan and Iran concerning the Chabahar port, which India has helped develop.

Background and Developments

• Tajikistan has started negotiations with Iran to facilitate the transit of its cargo via the Chabahar port.
• India signed a 10-year agreement with Iran in 2024 for the management of the Chabahar port, reinforcing its strategic interest in the region.
• This initiative aims to expand Tajikistan's trade relations with India, Gulf countries, and the Indian Ocean region.

Agreements and Routes

• Tajikistan's transport minister Azim Ibrohim and Iran’s minister of roads and urban development Farzaneh Sadeghi have signed a Cooperation Program to develop transit cargo transportation through Chabahar.
• Tajikistan announced plans to use the Bandar Abbas port for transporting goods.
• Given Tajikistan's lack of a direct border with Iran, it may access Chabahar via: 
  1. Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan before reaching Iran
  2. The Afghanistan route, which is the shortest

Geopolitical Context

• Tajikistan has been cautious in expanding ties with the Taliban government in Afghanistan, despite shared ethnic ties and geographic proximity.
• There is a significant Tajik population in Afghanistan, influencing bilateral relations.
• Tajikistan hosts the anti-Taliban National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, previously the Northern Alliance.
• While open to diplomatic engagement, Tajikistan is wary of forming security alliances influenced by Pakistan against the current Afghan government.