Geopolitical Impact of Gwadar Port on India
- India has expressed concern over China encircling it in a “String of Pearls” and Gwadar port is one such initiative of it. China’s aggressive regional engagements have long concerned India. India faces a number of geopolitical impacts.
- The expansion of Gwadar port puts India’s naval security in the Arabian Sea and a sizeable amount of its energy and oil imports through the Gulf of Oman in peril.
- Indian maritime surveillance in the Andaman Sea could increase after Chinese interest in the Pakistani port of Gwadar.
- The project may aid insurgency and terrorism and increase security hazards due to its proximity to Baluchistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
- The port project’s lack of accountability and transparency raises questions because it could be strategically and economically biased in favor of China.
- Through broadcast TV’s terrestrial distribution in Pakistan, which will collaborate with Chinese media in the “dissemination of Chinese culture,” China will likewise spread its ideology and culture.
- As Pakistan’s foreign policy, particularly with India, may be dictated by China, exacerbating the already strained relations and causing political instability in South Asia, the project may weaken Pakistan’s sovereignty;
- India might stop Chinese imports from crossing the straits in the event of hostilities.
- India’s Response to Gwadar Port:
- India’s response was to build Chabahar Port, which is only 76 nautical miles from Pakistan’s Gwadar Port, which was built by China.
- India decided to proceed with the construction of the Chabahar Port in order to enhance trade connectivity with Russia, countries in Central Asia, and Afghanistan.
- India has agreed to invest in the Chabahar Special Economic Zone through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
- India places a high focus on developing the Chabahar-Hajigak corridor. The Afghan government awarded Indian companies the contract for the Hajigak iron and steel project, making it noteworthy.
- Though Chabahar is merely a business venture, Gwadar is a military strategic endeavor. Iran is also concerned about Gwadar’s growth, which is considered as a threat to Chabahar.
Gwadar Port and its Geopolitical Impact on India
Gwadar Port is a deep-water port with views of the Arabian Sea. It is a component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), an ambitious project that aims to establish China as a key hub for trade and logistics between Europe and Central Asia.
Table of Content
- The Gwadar Port
- Geopolitical Impact of Gwadar Port on India
- History of Gwadar Port
- Master Plan for Gwadar Port
- CPEC and Gwadar Port
- India’s Response to Gwadar Port
- Way Forward