World

Engaging Iran

There could be a lot more to bilateral ties with Iran than just the gas pipeline project

Editorial July 26, 2015

Pakistan must start focusing on its southwestern neighbour immediately instead of waiting for economic sanctions on Iran to be lifted next year. PHOTO: AFP

In recent times, there has been plenty of evidence to suggest that the world, in times to come, is going to be defined by the activities of regional blocs or countries acting together in a number of diverse fields in order to fulfill their mutual interests. The pace of regional integration has witnessed an uptick. We recently saw the formation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, while The New Development Bank operated by the BRICS countries, provides another instance of emerging national economies coming together to demonstrate their financial health. Pakistan, too, has been in the mix of things as far as some of these new developments go. However, we need to realise that given Pakistan’s geographic and economic potential, there is more to regional integration than just focusing on promoting ties with China or Afghanistan.

Given recent developments vis-a-vis the Iran nuclear deal, the diplomatic lethargy displayed by Pakistan comes as a surprise. While Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met his counterparts from Russia, China, Afghanistan and India on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit recently, the one meeting that did not take place and should have, was with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Pakistan must start focusing on its southwestern neighbour immediately instead of waiting for economic sanctions on Iran to be lifted next year. Groundwork for improving economic ties, especially when it comes to meeting our energy needs, must start right away before Pakistan is left behind in the race to invest in that country. While taking lessons from history and exercising required diplomatic caution, Pakistan could take the logical route to developing ties with Iran in the wake of the sanction-lift and explore opportunities for investment and exploration of natural resources. We should go beyond the gas pipeline project and develop other meaningful and profitable business ventures. But that would only happen if Pakistan rids itself of diplomatic lethargy, and approaches Iran in a positive manner to work for mutual benefit. If certain quarters in the country hold that there is only limited scope for a mutually beneficial relationship with Iran, then they are sadly mistaken. There could be a lot more to bilateral ties with Iran than just the gas pipeline project.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th, 2015.

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COMMENTS (2)

S.R.H. Hashmi | 9 years ago | Reply I remember the good old days when Pakistan had very close and warm relations with Iran, but that was way back in the times of Shah of Iran who, I think was also the first foreign head of state to visit Pakistan. And the effect of Persian culture on Muslims in undivided India was such that people up to my father’s generation were also well-versed in Persian. However, with the departure of Shah from the scene, things changed, and unfortunately not for the better. And gradually, things have got to such a state that India has a defence pact with Iran under which it could use Iranian ports in case of war. Additionally, Iran has asked India to invest in the development of Chabahar port which is a short distance from Iran, Afghanistan. This port could enable India to bypass Pakistan in its trade with Afghanistan, as well as provide to Afghanistan a port which could enable Afghanistan to export it substantial mineral products whenever they get exploited. The port could also help India tmaintain and further expand its already substantial interests in Afghanistan. So, Iran which during Shah’s time was our close ally has now become something of an adversary of ours. Moreover, even in Afghanistan, our interests had been opposed to those of Iran which supported the Northern Alliance while we backed Taliban. Many factors have caused this cooling off of relationship with Iran, but the major factors are (1) replacement of Shah’s regime with that of a new government with an entirely different outlook, and (2) our increasing inclination and friendliness with Sunni Saudi Arabia which at time could even be considered to be at the cost of Shia Iran. And Sharif family’s years of exile in Saudi Arabia during which it developed much closer and personal relations with Saudi royal family have also played a part in distancing us from Iran. However, with our improving relations with Afghanistan, and with the much increased involvement of China in developing Afghanistan’s mineral resources, the fears of India developing a capacity to squeeze us from both eastern and western borders have nearly disappeared, resulting in narrowing the gap between Iran and Pakistan on the Afghan issue. I think the biggest hurdle to the development of our relations with Iran is that our politicians of small stature have still not been able to grow and develop into what one expects from leaders of a country of 200 million which, in addition to having a large, well-trained and disciplined military, also happens to be the sole nuclear power in the Muslim world. As such, working in a small-minded manner, they are unable to chalk out an independent foreign policy and also worry that improving relations with Iran could perhaps anger Saudi Arabia. Nawaz Sharif’s close personal relations with royal family and his business interests also come in the way. So, as you rightly suggest in your editorial, Pakistani leaders should develop close relations with Iran which could benefit both countries. In fact, I feel Pakistan should step ahead and play a role worth of its status in the Muslim world. By guaranteeing the security of small states which are apprehensive of Iran’s capability to develop nuclear weapons – which fears have been substantially reduced with the nuclear pact – and addressing the concerns of Iran, Pakistan should try to bring Shia and Sunni states together and end this needless rivalry which has done great harm to the Ummah. Our military leaders should also be prepared to play a role beyond our borders and not just limit it to Afghanistan.. Islamic State terrorists are becoming a threat to the Muslim world and if left unchecked, could soon create serious problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan, through their associates here. Forgetting Shia-Sunni differences, the states in the Middle East are now launching a combined assault on the IS terrorists in which Iran is also playing its due role. The latest entry in the war theatre is that of Turkey which was initially against Syria but has now agreed to act against IS terrorists in Syria. However, in this war against what is indeed the greatest threat to the Muslim world, Pakistan is nowhere in the picture. Army officers of the rank Major Generals and Lieutenant Generals, who could even hold the position of commander-in-chief in small states seem, in our country, to be quite happy and contented dealing with the law and order situation in Karachi, and apparently deriving ample job-satisfaction out of what is essentially the task of local police. Our military should not shy away from playing a role in the real war theatre against the IS terrorists, especially when eliminating them is also in our own interest. Karachi

Sonya | 9 years ago | Reply Iran will remain busy on how to invest about $100 billion, that will be released when sanctions will be lifted partially, most efficiently into its devastated economy due to sanctions imposed on them by the West. A big German delegation has already arrived in Tehran to assess its needs over the next ten years or so which some observers put into the region of massive $500 billion. Iran may not want to become overly dependent on the West for its development needs. And thereby will try to sell gas and oil on a larger scale to India and Pakistan as well as to China and Japan. Some observers have also indicated that, given the lowest rate prevailing for crude oil in the international market, Iran will also try to sell natural gas to Europe by reviving the old Iran-Europe Gas Pipeline via Turkey when Russia's gas supply to Europe is facing hurdles due to the Ukraine crisis. China, India and Russia will be approached to finance these mega projects to avail credits from AIIB and Brics Bank rather than taking supplier's credit from Europe at the LIBOR rate which is expected to be much higher than the two new Banks established recently at the auspices of China. India was a big market for Iran's crude oil and other products even before the sanctions were imposed. Today India's economy is much larger and the Modi Government has already indicated to expand its trade and business links with Iran. The possibility of opening an alternative route to reach Central Asia and Afghanistan via the new port Chahbandar may turn out to be added incentive to Indian businessmen to widen business and trade ties with Iran. Thus India will be involved in a big way with Iran. Given the situation. Pakistan should take pro active initiatives to revive its friendly ties with its near neighbour. Pakistan should also keep its house in order so that there is no more persecution of Shia minority communities within its border by the fanatic mullahs recently adhering to Saudi manufactured Sunni Wahabi Majhab. Iran on its own will try to cultivate a very cordial relationship with Pakistan with whom it has got historical links and long standing cultural affinity. Pakistan will not have to worry about implementing the CPEC program as it is initiated by China and, once implemented, China will get an invaluable strategic excess to the Persian Sea

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