ISLAMABAD: India’s need for energy and trade with central Asian countries is largely dependent on Pakistan, said Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Wednesday.
According to a media report, Ashraf was speaking during the inauguration of the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (Ideas) in Karachi.
Ashraf said Pakistan has a crucial role in India’s efforts to acquire energy from Central Asia and peace and stability are essential for the socio-economic development of the region.
“It is a matter of satisfaction that both India and Pakistan are moving forward in the right direction through the composite dialogue framework,” Ashraf remarked.
Pakistan is a part of a 1,735-kilometre long pipeline project commonly known as Turkemistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline.
The prime minister also spoke about Pakistan’s foreign policies and the challenges faced by the country.
“Pakistan is confronted with complex challenges. The external and internal threats to Pakistan range from socio-economic to politico-military spectrum. We are confronted with extremism, militancy and intolerance in the society,” he said as per the media report.
The Ideas is a defence-related event held in Pakistan every two years. The first such exhibition was organised in 2000 by former president Pervez Musharraf. Since then, more than 30,000 delegates and 250 exhibitors from across the globe have become a part of it.
COMMENTS (44)
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@Zalmai: You say that WRT has a madrasa mindset. If that's the case, you have the typical Afghan stone age mindset. No offense, just going with the flow with your stereotyping :)
@WRT
You conveniently forget that more than 200 million people in India have been pulled out of poverty in the last two decades while most Pakistanis have gone the opposite route. Living in denial, mudslinging, dismissive and infantile attitudes and a general disregard for facts are the guiding principles of a madrasa curriculum and you sir, are a fine example of this education system.
@Realist
Thank you. Zalmai means youth/young in Pashto and it is a male name.
@Arindom
You gave me a serious case of guffaws.
@Arindom: About three quarter of Indians live with a begging bowl in their hands daily. And I mean of the footpath and homeless variety.
Interesting discussion. But by all practicality even if India's reach to central Asia is not limited through Pakistan, it will certainly be a viable option. This industrial expressway will benefit both the countries. Ashraf coyly did not mention the potential benefits of this trade routes. In the end it's all business.
@Arindom: Excellent! You made my day!
This is from the same 65 year old Pakistani Delusional School of Foreign Strategy that says: -- China is dependent on Pakistan to keep India in check! -- Saudis are dependent on Pakistan to counter Iran! -- Iran is dependent on Pakistan to counter Saudis! -- Bangladesh is dependent on Pakistan to balance India and Burma! -- US is dependent on Pakistan to control the Taliban and Al-Qaeda! -- UK is dependent on Pakistan to control the extremism in their own country! -- Russia is dependent on Pakistan to checkmate US! -- India is dependent on Pakistan to access Central Asia! -- Israel is dependent on Pakistan to manage the Muslim World! -- Japan is dependent on Pakistan to establish peace in MIddle East and trade in Asia! -- Korea is dependent on Pakistan to market it's cars and machinery! -- Europe is dependent on Pakistan to manage the Muslim World and access Central Asian Oil! -- Central Asia is dependent on Pakistan for everything! -- Sri Lanka is dependent on Pakistan to balance India -- Gulf is dependent on Pakistan to balance Iran and Shia Power!
And finally who are we dependent on - Nobody, but the Begging Bowl!
@Zalmai: Good reply Zalmai bhai/behan.
If Pakistanis provide transit access to central asia, India will certainly prosper more, I am sure Pakistanis will also prosper ..its a win-win , but Pakistanis do not want to be a bridge, they are a big wall ( actually badlands) as of today. We hope better sense will prevail in future for the sake of the 180 million paks.
This does not mean India has no other optics, Iran is our gateway .. its not the best, but still we are game on!
Pakistanis need to think - Most of their Imports, they come by land or sea??
@WT and WRT
I realize that India has no borders with Iran but that does not stop nations from trading and if Pakistan does not implement business friendly policies for regional trade and commerce, the neighboring states will entertain all alternative routes to conduct business. Life goes on with or without Pakistan in the grand scheme of things. Pakistan is not some regional hub that the world cannot do without.
Apart from prejudice, simple business rule is, save as many kilometers as you can to keep the prices of commodities lower.Chahbahar is a reluctant choice for India and Afghanistan and definetly not preferred one.But when, dwarfs with mindeset of eating grass,become rulers oppurtunities are lost and eating grass becomes a reality.Manifesto accomplished.It taste very bad.
"“Pakistan is confronted with complex challenges. The external and internal threats to Pakistan range from socio-economic to politico-military spectrum. We are confronted with extremism, militancy and intolerance in the society,”" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ intolerance? hmmmm is it fair to raise the issue of the COAS in that forum?
well what about the sea route ???
@Zeux:
Yes sir. India has been surviving all these years by depending on Pakistan.
@Zalmai: Actually, no one really gives a hoot about Chanbahar when there's no land connections. Tell me, how is Afghanistan connected to India? No borders, no routes, nothing. Chanbahar doesn't mean anything geographically, a couple of US missiles during wartime will render all Iranian ports useless anyway.
@Arijit Sharma: It looks even more different with no Jammu and Kashmir
@Zalmai: India has no borders with Iran. The Chabahar port is useless geostrategically, because land connections matter more. Chabahar is hardly a convenient, let alone quick, route for India.
@Zeux: "LOL at all the butthurt indians. What he said is true and you know it too"
We needed someone (you), who has treated butthurt all his life, to tell us the truth. Thank you nurse.
Oh, I did not know that Pakistan is center of universe. Every country on face of earth is depend upon Pakistan, no matter it is India or USA. Everybody prosperity is depend upon Pakistan. It is called "Mungery Lal ke Haseen Sapney". Or "Seikh Chilli"
Indians have no way but to be do Pakistan's bidding. Pakistan must use its advantage to the fullest. That's what India would do if it were in Pakistan's place. Let India agree to Pakistan's principled demands first.
Dr. PM, the map looks very different without Baluchistan and Gilgit Baltistan.
LOL at all the butthurt indians. What he said is true and you know it too
@Wolfie loves kulfie
Afghan traders are already lining up to use Chabahar Port along with Indian and Iranian traders. It won't be long before Afghans, Indians and the rest of the Central Asian states efficiently employ the ports in Chabahar, Iran and Turkmenistan rendering Pakistan irrelevant in this equation.
India constructed a highway in Southwest Afghanistan linking it to the Iranian border, which gives Afghans a shorter route to the sea and it allows India to bypass Pakistan to access Central Asia. Central Asian states along with Iran and Turkey have taken initiatives to connect and integrate their economies and if Pakistan does not cooperate they will find themselves outside the Silk Road looking in.
This is a graceless remark, even if accurate. The Hon'ble Prime Minister should not have said this.
Route to central asia lies through Kashmir . So PM should brush up his memory .
@Polpot: "Why can Pakistan not expolit the geographical advantages that India must bow to Pakistan for?"
Hush. Why are you giving them such sensitive and valuable information without getting anything in return ? If common sense were to come and strike Pakistan on their head, they still wouldn't know what to do with it ! :)
@Someone: If you think route through Central Asia is only through Pakistan then we dont realy want it,...
And, if you had any commonsense (no disrespect intended), you would have seen an opportunity there for everyone to benefit.
Pls read this wise statement of the PM along with the article in todays ET: The PPP’s terrible economic performance +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Why can Pakistan not expolit the geographical advantages that India must bow to Pakistan for?
This the "toffee" that the leaders of Pakistan are giving their people ... while they are desperately trying to get petrol, dieseal and LPG from India.
Zardari is in Qatar asking the rulers to please supply LPG through India, while his PM is claiming that India's energy needs require Pakistan - DF Pakis
"India’s need for energy and trade with central Asian countries is largely dependent on Pakistan," A king saw a dream and aske his minister to interpret it ,the minister told him according to this dream all your relatives will die before you one by one.This interpretation filled king's mouth with bad taste.Another wise man was asked to interpret the dream.The wise man said,your majesty congratulation.according to this dream you wil have a longer life than all of your relatives-Same meaning but different approach changes the mood. Adressing a polarised domestic audiance he should have said like this Our economic prosperity is dependant on our mindset.Our friendly mindset toward neighbours can help convert our strategic location into great trade routs with India and central republics.
**LOL the mister does not know
India depends on pakistan for nothing
as the Indians have already bypassed Pakistan
by buying and renovating charbhaar port in Iran from where India handles trade into central Asia
this port is equivalent to the Chinese buying and operating gadwar from Pakistan
the minster needs to brush up on his intelligence reports
before making such statements which are foolish**
Pakistan will have oil, LPG import from India at cheaper prices, electricity import also so who is more dependent on future??... I think both will be interdependent on each other in future on each other
PM doesn't considers Iran a country.
india and pakistan should look to develop strong relations with each other for the prosperity of the entire region...............energy is a very important factor and its access possible only when the region is stable and peaceful............hail india-pak peace process!!!!!!!1
We have to put our own house in order first of all. India is dependent or not is not an issue. We are trying to import electricity and Petrol from India, so we are also counting on them. 65 years have gone by and both the sub continent neighbors are trying to pull other one down. Millions and Millions are starving on either side of border and still we have enough money to fuel the war....
Its being so weird that our leaders always trying to exploit the location of our beloved country to hide their bad governance and incompetency.
Its a trite saying now. Do something so that the world must recognize your sincerity at least towards your own country.
Dependent??? ET once again using leading terms.
Very true. India's economy is dependent on Pakistan.
Sir, they are already doing well without any land trade with CIS countries! This zero sum game must end.
India has no route through Central Asia other than Pakistan. This is also one of the constraints in its efforts to link up with Afghanistan. Thus, India has no other option but to act as a good neighbour to Pakistan (which is unlikely) if it wants to boost its access to Central Asia.
everything you people decide and indian have no word to say
We may be dependent on Energy needs not trade. Even our energy crisis can be solved when our nuclear reactors are complete.