March 5, 2012
By Dr Raja Muhammad Khan


In this highly globalized and interdependent world, at global level, there is no country, which is self-reliant. The interconnectedness and communication revolution has reduced the distances and boosted the interdependence virtually in fields, viz; economic, political and military. The concept of interdependence has made even the super of the time; United States, dependent on other countries of the world. Today, every country needs help and assistance from others to meets its necessities in a relationship of mutuality. Commercially, countries fulfil their needs through the universally accepted norms of imports and exports.

Like most of other countries, Pakistan too is an energy deficient country. It fulfils its energy needs through imports of energy resources, mainly in the form of oil from a number of oil exporting states, Islamic Republic of Iran, being one of those. Besides, oil, in 1990s, the Islamic Republic has agreed to export 750 million cubic feet of natural gas per day (mmcfd) with a provision to increase the volume to 1 billion cubic feet per day to Pakistan. Owing to a number of factors, and Indian backtracking, the deal could only be finalized between Iran and Pakistan in 2010. The deal, which would be able to reduce the energy crisis of Pakistan substantially, is being strongly opposed by United State, on very irrational grounds.

In June 2010, the late US special envoy, Richard Holbrook, delivered a message of Obama Administration to Pakistan that, the Pak-Iran gas pipeline “could run afoul of new sanctions”, which were then under consideration in the US Congress. Mr Holbrook then warned Pakistan in the words that, “We cautioned the Pakistanis to try to see what the (congressional) legislation is before deciding how to proceed because it would be a disaster if … we had a situation develop where an agreement was reached which then triggered something under the law.”

While maintaining its opposition, US continue pressurizing Pakistan to get out of this deal. Very recently, US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, warned Pakistan, once again for the consequences if it goes ahead with Iran-Pakistan Gas pipeline. In the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, she said that, US would impose “additional pressures” if Pakistan opts to move “beyond talk”, under the Iran Sanctions Act. She advised Pakistan to fulfil its energy through TAPI, another gas pipeline project from Turkmenistan to India, via, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Ms. Clinton warned that Pakistan already has a “quite shaky” economy, thus additional sanctions would severely deteriorate its economic crises. Behind the scene, the super power offered Pakistan, a number of measures and financial packages to meet the Pakistani requirements of energy. Pakistan, however feels that, Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline would be a very beneficial project for it in the long-term.

Prime Minister, Yousaf Raza Gillani, has responded this US intimidation by saying that, Pakistan is a “sovereign country and we will do whatever is in the interest of Pakistan.” Indeed, Pakistan feels that, energy and trade cooperation with Iran is in its best national interests. Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani Khar said that, “Pakistan is pursuing important projects with Iran such as gas pipeline, electricity transmission and also building a more robust trade partnership. All of these projects are in Pakistan`s national interest and will be pursued and completed irrespective of any extraneous consideration.” The Foreign Minister further said that, “I think all our friends are encouraged to understand the real energy crisis that is in Pakistan. We can`t afford to be selective of where we receive our energy supply from.”

Pakistan has already brokered a deal with Iran for this pipeline project. Besides, it will purchase 1,000 MW electricity transmission line and 100MW Gwadar power supply. Owing to its heavy energy needs, Pakistan cannot afford to delink from these agreed energy projects irrespective of the US or any other pressure. More recently, Iran has shown its willingness to supply 80,000 of barrels of crude oil per day to Pakistan on a 3-month deferred payment, which is another very welcoming gesture by Iranian brothers. Pakistan also feels that, UN sanctions do not cover this pipeline project, thus it remains committed to the project. Otherwise, in case, Pakistan backtracked from this deal under US pressure, it will have to face many repercussions, first being the violation of international law. Apart from that, scrapping of this deal would be amounting to spoiling its brotherly relations with Iran, which have repaired over the years, after remaining strained for quite some time since early 1990s.

Rightly responded by Pakistani leadership, after all, why Pakistan should spoil its brotherly relationship with Iran on the demand of international actors in order to fulfill their interests? Why cannot these actors respect the Pakistani interests? Besides being a neighbour, Iran is the only country with which Pakistan has “had age-old relations, based on cultural, ethnic, and spiritual links”. Pakistan shares over 900 kilometres of border with Iran. Traditionally Pakistani frontiers with Iran have always been peaceful, safe and secure. Both countries are bound by a strapping relationship and Iran was the first country which recognized Pakistan upon its emergence as an independent country in August 1947. Indeed, there have been historical linkages between the people of Pakistan and Iran. Iranian migrants and Islamic preachers had left long lasting impression on the people and civilization of Pakistan.

The Muslim Sultanate of Delhi introduced the Persian influence in the subcontinent in 13th Century, which is continuing in today’s Pakistan. This Persian cultural influence remained dominant until the end of Mughal Empire in India. Pakistan has been Iran strategic partners and Iranian soil has been its strategic depth. Iran, indeed demonstrated this by providing all out assistance to Pakistan during 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars. First Pakistani Premier Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan visited Iran in 1949 and Iranian Shah reciprocated in 1950, as the first foreign head of state. Pakistan’s national anthem was played for the first time on the eve of the visit of Shanshah-i-Iran in March 1950. In a way there came to exist a relationship of interdependence between both brotherly Islamic countries right from the inception of Pakistan. Thereafter both countries maintained their bilateral relationship in an atmosphere of Islamic brotherhood and as good neighbours, with mutual acceptability.

Pakistan whole-heartedly supported Iranian viewpoint on the issue of its nuclear programme and maintained that Iran has the right to develop its nuclear programme within the ambit of NPT. Through a progressive reconciliation and chaotic diplomacy, both countries come closer to each other in last few years. In the changing security environment, Pakistan and Iran must boost their ties by maintaining the current warmth in the relationship without taking into account the pressures from international actors.

The leadership on either side must remain steadfast to withstand this pressure. Since People of Pakistan, stand with the courageous people of Iran in this time of difficulties, therefore, the leadership should exploit this opportunity and assure Iran for any support against any foreign aggression by an external power.

The writer is an analyst of intentional relations.

Geography is one of the most important determinants which go to shape foreign policies of nations. Commonality of cultural traditions and economic dependency give further impetus to close relations among nations. The importance of close relations between Pakistan and Iran can hardly be overemphasized in the light of these universally recognized principles. Cultural and trade relations between the people of the two countries are centuries and millennia old. The creation of Pakistan in 1947 further brought the two people closer to each other.

The strategic importance of the two countries for each other can be gathered from the fact that the Shah of Iran was the first foreign Head of State to visit Pakistan after its creation. Both the countries remained active members of the Western sponsored security alliance, the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO), for the purpose of putting a barrier to the expansion of the influence of the Soviet Union and communism in the Middle East.

Iran, aware as it was of the strategic importance of Pakistan for its own security, provided military and diplomatic support to Pakistan during its wars with India in 1965 and 1971. In 1979 when Revolution was brought into Iran, Pakistan regarded it as Iran’s internal affair and wasted no time in recognizing the new Revolutionary government under Khomeini. Both the revolutionary Iran and Pakistan under Gen Zia ul Haq adopted the same policy of opposing the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan and supported the resistance of the Afghan Mujahedeen for the withdrawal of the Soviet forces.

After the withdrawal of the Soviet forces from Afghanistan, differences between Pakistan and Iran cropped up due to divergences of their views on the formation of government and support for different Afghan groups. Pakistan due to ethnic considerations first supported Hizb-i-Islami of Gulbadin Hekmatyar and then the Taliban while Iran for the same considerations supported the Tajik dominated Northern Alliance.

After 9/11 tremendous changes have occurred in the region. Pakistan and the United States are not as close to each other as they were during the Cold War. Both Iran and Pakistan want withdrawal of the US forces from Afghanistan and support peace process. India, whose policies during the Cold War were in total disregard to the US interests and policies, has become an important pillar of the US strategy of containment of China in Asia.

Indo-US nuclear technology deal and its refusal under pressure of the US to back out of the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project can be seen in this backdrop. Iran is under tremendous pressure from the US and Western powers at the behest of Israel due to its nuclear program. Pakistan due to its growing energy requirements and scarcity of hydro-carbons is badly in need of importing oil and gas from the Middle East and Central Asia. The Central Asian channel remains untapped due to unsettled situation in Afghanistan.

That is why Pakistan went ahead with the Project of Pak-Iran gas pipeline project to overcome scarcity of its energy resources despite the US pressure to abandon it. India is also in dire need of energy sources but the Indo-US Nuclear Deal fulfils some of its needs in this respect by provision of nuclear fuel which might be used for production of energy while its indigenously produced nuclear fuel could be diverted towards weapons purposes. Pakistan’s gas deal with Iran is purely for enhancing its energy capabilities and is in no way meant for assisting Iran in its alleged quest for nuclear weapons program.

China has also expressed its willingness to connect itself to this pipeline because it is also facing the problem of energy shortage due to its rapidly growing economy. China’s growth strategy is based on the concept of diversifying its energy supply lines. This pipeline if extended to China may serve as a supply line to north-western parts of this giant of Asia.

The main problem with Pakistan is that it still has not disentangled itself of the tight grip of the US. It will take some time for Pakistan to completely come out of the spell of the US. This is not to say that Pakistan should adopt inimical attitude towards the US. Pakistan should adopt a policy line which is more in pursuance of its national interests rather than serving interests of other nations. So its policy should be that of friendship towards all those who will accept it and animosity towards none.

Pakistan and Iran have also great potential of developing trade and commercial relations with each other. They can also develop cooperation in maritime activities. They have not yet developed their full potentials in this respect. Growing relations between Pakistan and Iran may also serve as catalyst for peace in Afghanistan as well as for bringing Iran and the Arab countries closer to each other because Pakistan has warm relations with both. This may be helpful for reducing tension in the Middle East.


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Rethinking ties with Iran


A VISIT by the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, Ali Shamkhani, to Pakistan has shone a brief spotlight on a common security concern of both countries: the possibility that the self-styled Islamic State has found a toehold in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the region generally, and the commitment to ensuring that IS does not grow into a significant security threat in the area.

In that shared threat may lie the seeds of closer security cooperation between Iran and Pakistan and a greater Iranian role in stabilising and securing Afghanistan — both developments that ought to be welcomed, if handled with care.

Know more: Iran’s role in Afghan talks welcome, says Aziz

Already in Afghanistan there has been a convergence of interests of the Afghan, Pakistani and American governments.

The fear of IS has surely played some role in the serious efforts to find a political solution to the crisis of the Afghan Taliban and the government there. Iran, sharing as it does a border with Afghanistan and long having influence in the country, could be yet another international piece of the jigsaw puzzle that is finding a sustainable peace in Afghanistan.

To the extent that Tehran can be encouraged to participate in and Pakistan can help make space for Iran in the diplomatic push to find a durable peace in Afghanistan, the state here should do whatever it can.

Beyond that there would be need for a fundamental rethink of the relationship with Iran if bilateral trade and investment are to be ramped up and the security relationship expanded beyond historically narrow concerns.

While Mr Shamkhani and his Pakistani hosts stressed that the goal is to widen and deepen overall bilateral ties, Pakistan has largely viewed the Pak-Iran relationship in the context of ties with Saudi Arabia and, to a lesser extent, the US.

Unhappily, despite the US moving towards a thaw with Iran and even inviting it to participate in talks on the future of Syria, the Pakistani state seems to be moving in slow motion when it comes to the fast-changing economic and security climate with regard to our neighbour.

When Iran was eager to supply gas and electricity to Pakistan as it struggled under US-led sanctions, the authorities here appeared to have given too much weight to US concerns and effectively shelved many mutually beneficial economic programmes.

Now, with the US likely to be less forceful about closer ties between Pakistan and Iran, it appears it is the original concern regarding how Saudi Arabia may react that is coming to the fore. While much is made of the PML-N government’s perceived closeness to the Saudi regime, the security establishment in the country too has old and close ties to the regime.

At some point, however, the political government and security establishment may want to consider if global politics is really the zero-sum game that they appear to approach it as.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2015