ISLAMABAD: Former senior diplomat Sardar Masood Khan has asserted that Iranpossesses concrete evidence indicating India has been employing ChabaharPort not merely for commercial purposes but as a covert hub for espionageactivities benefiting Israeli strategic goals. This revelation emergesagainst the backdrop of heightened regional tensions following the 2025Israel-Iran conflict, where suspicions of foreign interference intensified.Khan emphasized that such operations represent a betrayal of the trustinherent in bilateral infrastructure agreements, raising profound questionsabout India’s regional intentions and the security implications forneighboring states.
The Chabahar Port project, initiated through a long-term agreement betweenIndia and Iran, was ostensibly designed to enhance trade connectivity toAfghanistan and Central Asia while circumventing Pakistani territory. Indiainvested significantly in developing the port’s infrastructure, positioningit as a counterbalance to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port under the China-PakistanEconomic Corridor. However, critics argue that the strategic location alongIran’s southeastern coast provided India with unprecedented access tosensitive areas, enabling discreet intelligence gathering under the guiseof legitimate commercial activities. Reports from various sources suggestthat during the Israel-Iran war in 2025, certain facilities linked to theport may have facilitated surveillance or logistical support aligned withexternal interests.
Sardar Masood Khan further elaborated that India established the port withulterior motives from inception, transforming it into a dual-purpose entitytargeting both Pakistan and Iran. He referenced arrests by Iranianauthorities of individuals connected to an alleged espionage network duringthe recent conflict, implying that Chabahar served as a conduit forintelligence operations against Tehran. This claim aligns with broaderallegations that Indian entities transported sensitive equipment orsupported activities disrupting Iranian defenses, particularly amiddrone-related incidents that compromised air security systems in 2025.
The geopolitical context of these accusations is rooted in the complexinterplay of alliances in West Asia. India’s deepening defense andtechnological partnerships with Israel have long coexisted with economicengagements in Iran, creating inherent tensions. The 2025 conflictexacerbated these fault lines, prompting Iranian security forces toscrutinize foreign nationals involved in Chabahar-related projects. Severalreports indicate detentions of individuals suspected of links to externalintelligence agencies, fueling speculation that infrastructure cooperationmasked covert agendas. Such developments underscore the fragility ofregional partnerships when overshadowed by strategic rivalries.
Pakistan has consistently voiced concerns regarding Chabahar’s potentialmisuse, viewing it as a platform for destabilizing activities inBalochistan and beyond. Official statements have warned againstcross-border militancy promoted through the port, highlighting the risks tonational security. Khan’s remarks reinforce this perspective, suggestingthat the evidence held by Iran validates longstanding apprehensions aboutIndia’s dual-track approach in the region. The withdrawal of Indianoperational involvement in Chabahar amid renewed U.S. sanctions furthercomplicates the narrative, as it may reflect efforts to mitigate exposurefollowing heightened scrutiny.
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These allegations arrive at a time when Iran faces internal challengesalongside external pressures, including protests and economic strainspost-2025 war. The purported evidence could strain India-Iran relations,potentially jeopardizing future infrastructure collaborations and alteringregional connectivity dynamics. Analysts note that such claims, ifsubstantiated, might prompt Tehran to reassess foreign investments instrategic assets, favoring partners perceived as less aligned withadversarial powers.
The controversy surrounding Chabahar illustrates the intricate balancestates must maintain in pursuit of economic and security objectives. WhileIndia maintains that its involvement was purely developmental, theassertions by figures like Sardar Masood Khan highlight the persistentmistrust in South and West Asian geopolitics. As investigations continue,the revelations could reshape perceptions of trust in multilateral projectsand influence future diplomatic engagements in the region.
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