Also, the fact that Iran and Pakistan have decided to go ahead with their gas pipeline project despite US warnings has put India on alert about Tehran‘s other options. Presidents Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Asif Ali Zardari inaugurated the construction of this pipeline project at Chabahar, a signal India cannot overlook.

Sources said it would be in India‘s interest to harness Chabahar port‘s potential soon enough to ensure a link into Afghanistan for its goods, which bypasses Pakistan. India, Iran and Afghanistan already have a joint working group, which is supposed to work out the details of implementing this plan.