Which geopolitical factor most significantly hinders India's direct land connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia through its western borders?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Solution: The correct answer is Unresolved border disputes with a key transit country.
Explanation:
☛ India's direct overland access to Afghanistan and Central Asia is geographically blocked because Pakistan controls Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), which shares India's border with Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor.
☛ Due to persistent bilateral hostility and unresolved territorial disputes with Pakistan, India is denied overland transit rights through Pakistani territory.
☛ To circumvent this barrier, India has developed alternative routes such as the Chabahar Port in Iran and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) to access Central Asia and Afghanistan.
Extra Exam-Relevant Facts:
☛ Wakhan Corridor: It is a narrow strip of territory in northeastern Afghanistan that extends to China and separates Tajikistan from Pakistan and PoK.
☛ Chabahar Port: Located in southeastern Iran on the Gulf of Oman, it serves as India's strategic gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia bypassing Pakistan.
☛ INSTC: A 7,200-km-long multi-modal network of ship, rail, and road routes connecting India, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia.
☛ Ashgabat Agreement: An international multimodal transit corridor facilitating trade between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf, which India officially joined in 2018.
Important One-Liners for Upcoming Exams:
☛ Which narrow Afghan corridor separates Tajikistan from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir? → Wakhan Corridor
☛ In which country is the strategic Chabahar Port located? → Iran
☛ In which year did India officially accede to the Ashgabat Agreement? → 2018
☛ What is the full form of the transit project 'INSTC'? → International North-South Transport Corridor
☛ Which border line serves as the de facto boundary between India and Pakistan in Jammu & Kashmir? → Line of Control (LoC)