It’s time that we buried the hatchet
ISLAMABAD: Border tensions and foreign interventions – key pivots in determining the shape and contour of foreign policies, priorities and strategies – are a matter of grave concern. The recent attack by Jaish al Adl, causing the deaths of 10 Iranian border guards was a trigger. It resulted in the unscheduled visit of Iran’s foreign minister to Pakistan to meet the top political and military officials here. The originality of Iran’s effort to strengthen diplomatic ties is evident as such a step was completely opposite to what India or Afghanistan may have done in a similar situation.
It is imperative to highlight that when India struck a deal with Iran to build Chabahar Port as a rival to our Gwadar Port, Iran made it clear that the parties to this deal were not finalised. It was an implicit invitation to the neighbours to join hands and not look upon one another as rivals.
Pakistan, on the other hand, had its reasons to doubt Iran as a potential collaborator of India in creating unrest in Balochistan, by funding the separatist movements and enabling RAW to conduct terrorist activities.
Another bone of contention may have been General Raheel Sharif’s acceptance of leading the Saudi-led Islamic Military Alliancel. Nonetheless, by utilising diplomatic channels the Iranian foreign minister provided a reason to believe that India is not as influential or dominant over Iran’s foreign policy as popularly assumed, at least not in Pakistan’s case.
The argument regarding Jindal’s visit to Murree, not equipped with a permit rather a high-profile protocol, being a method of backdoor diplomacy cannot be completely overruled. It is considered that by giving such favours to industrialists for promotion of business ties may catalyse the process of straightening Indo-Pak ties on the national level.
Such scenarios imply an affirmative picture of overriding factors in future relationships. With officials at the top level resorting to strengthening diplomatic ties, rather than alleviating or obliterating them, countries will be able to join hands and combat the border clashes cumulatively. The ulterior motives of transnational actors to divide-and-rule will also be discouraged, as they seem to be gaining a strong foothold in Afghanistan.
By striking the iron when it is hot, unity can’t be overstated enough. It’s time that we buried the hatchet and unified to counter the menace creating international and bilateral tensions. To achieve this purpose, India needs to learn from Iran on keeping the diplomatic ties even in the face of severe tensions and to avoid competing to attain a superior role as a representative of South Asia. This will also keep this volatile region, which is armed with nuclear weapons, safe in the international arena leading to bright future prospects.
Sobia Mansoor
Published in The Express Tribune, May 12th, 2017.
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