India's bet on an alternative trade route to Russia and Central Asia is at a crossroads. With the US sanctions waiver on Chabahar port expiring on April 26, 2026, India's role at the port has come under uncertainty, prompting questions about the future of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told Parliament in February that India "remains engaged with all concerned in order to address the implications of these developments." According to a Bloomberg report citing anonymous government officials,India is considering temporarily transferring its stake in the port to an Iranian entity while retaining the option to return, but that it does not plan to exit Chabahar entirely.
