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The Congress party has condemned the Modi government for not allocating funds for the Chabahar port project in the Union Budget 2026-27, calling it a strategic setback to India's Central Asian diplomacy. Jairam Ramesh stated that the initiative, which began in the late 1990s, received renewed support under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, with a USD 115 million investment approved in May 2013.

Ramesh pointed out that the Chabahar port, located 170 km west of Pakistan's Gwadar port, is crucial for India’s access to Afghanistan and Central Asia. The lack of funding raises questions about India's commitment to the project, particularly after the closure of its air force base in Tajikistan.