DID Press: Damage to infrastructure at Iran’s strategic Chabahar Port following reported US strikes has heightened concerns over Afghanistan’s access to regional trade routes, with analysts warning that prolonged disruption could affect the country’s foreign trade.
According to reports, the attacks damaged the port’s maritime traffic control tower, disrupting operations at Chabahar Port, one of Afghanistan’s most important alternative trade gateways.
Developed with Indian investment since 2016, Chabahar provides Afghanistan and Central Asia with direct access to international markets without transiting through Pakistan. The port has become a key component of Kabul’s strategy to diversify its trade routes and reduce dependence on Pakistani transit corridors.
The reported damage comes as the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran adds further uncertainty to regional maritime transport and supply chains.
Analysts warn that any prolonged disruption to operations at Chabahar could significantly affect Afghanistan’s imports and exports, given the country’s increasing reliance on the Iranian port for international trade.
In recent years, repeated closures of border crossings, transit restrictions, and political tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban administration have accelerated Afghanistan’s shift toward expanding trade cooperation with Iran and making greater use of Chabahar Port.