Pressure on two fronts

Pakistan is a sovereign country and much of its respect is drawn from that status. However, on two issues one feels that its sovereignty, earned after much hard work and numerous sacrifices, has been trampled upon. The first is the drone attacks issue and the second is the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.

During my visit to the United States where I held meetings with different government functionaries, I routinely asked one question: why is the US conducting drone attacks when they clearly violate Pakistan’s sovereignty? I was told, again and again, that the strikes were not against the country’s sovereignty and were instead aimed at eliminating terrorists and their sanctuaries.

Earlier, a political party blocked Nato supply lines in some parts of Pakistan, giving out a forceful and strong message about the stoppage of drones. The matter is not yet resolved.

Then, there is the case of Washington urging Islamabad to abandon the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline or face the prospect of punitive sanctions.

Pakistan and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 1995 in an effort to check a mounting energy crisis. Ten years later, another MoU was signed to include India and the project was declared as a ‘peace pipeline’.

In 2008, India used this MoU as a bargaining chip with the US to ink a civilian nuclear deal.

Meanwhile, Iran, in order to honour its commitment constructed a 1,100 kilometre line in its side till July 2011. Pakistan was asked to complete its side of 785 kilometres till December this year to commence supply.

The US, it seems, has adopted a double-edge policy as it is putting huge pressure on Pakistan to avoid this gas pipeline otherwise sanctions will be imposed. On the other hand, Pakistan is working as a frontline state with the US in the war on terror. Despite huge sacrifices from Pakistan, the US is not willing to see that Pakistani economy will flourish and become self-sufficient.

This act of US interference in the Iran-Pakistan pipeline affair is tantamount to hurting the sovereignty of Pakistan once again. Although during the all parties conference, it was agreed that drones were not fruitful but now the rulers will have to decide to send strict message to the US that the IP pipeline will not be abandoned as it is the project which can change the destiny of economy. Sovereignty should be preserved at all costs and the country should not sell itself to a foreign power.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th, 2014.