Pak-Iran Relations in the context of Evolving Regional and Global Scenario

A talk by Iranian ambassador to Pakistan on “Pak-Iran Relations in the context of Evolving Regional and Global Scenario” was organized on May 18, 2011.

A talk by Iranian ambassador to Pakistan on “Pak-Iran Relations in the context of Evolving Regional and Global Scenario” was organized on May 18, 2011.

Delivering a talk on “Pak-Iran Relations in the context of Evolving Regional and Global Scenario” at IPS, Iranian ambassador to Pakistan Masha’Allah Shakeri said that Iran was willing to help bringing Pakistan out from its energy crisis and had done its part of work on a number of projects that were mutually agreed.

Repeating the words of Iranian President Ahmadinejad “there exists no limit for expansion of cooperation with Pakistan”, Iranian ambassador said that based upon centuries of common history, values and faith, avenues for economic, cultural, and social cooperation should be explored. “There should be greater dynamism in relationship between the two countries having 250 million Muslim population on both sides of the border,” he emphasized.

Talking about Pakistan’s electricity needs and potential of Iran to provide most viable and economical solution to the problem, the ambassador said that Pakistan and Iran had entered into an agreement in 2008 under which Pakistan had agreed to purchase 1000 MW electricity from Iran and 100 MW for Gwadar.

Excellency Shakeri said that Iran was not only ready to provide the electricity but it had the capacity to offer much more than it. Citing examples of energy cooperation between Pakistan and Iran, he said that Iran was already providing 40MW of electricity to Balochistan and Iranian companies were busy in installing two power projects in Sindh.

“Banking services and bureaucratic channels” were counted among the hurdles in fast accomplishment of development projects. He highlighted that Iran was supplying electricity to a number of countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkey and Armenia and price of electricity to be delivered to Pakistan could either be based on the price models being successfully followed with these countries or both countries could find any price formula that is just and convenient.

The Iranian envoy also spoke at length about supply of Iranian natural gas to Pakistan through pipeline. He informed that Iran had laid a 56 inch diameter pipeline from delivery point to the nearest Iranian areas on Pakistan’s border.

Reiterating Iran’s stance on the issue of Kashmir, Mr. Shakeri expressed that Tehran stood by the spirited Kashmiris and supported their just cause. He noted that Iran’s position on Kashmir clearly reflected in the remarks of the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. On November 16, 2010, Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in his message to the Haj Pilgrims called for providing assistance to Kashmiris “engaged in resistance struggle.”

The Iranian ambassador emphasized that “Our stance which has been stipulated by the supreme leader has clarified all the doubts about the intentions of Iran and we paid for that in India but we are proud of it.”

“We want peace and tranquility for the people of Kashmir and believe that if Pakistan and India could resolve their problems it would be of interest to Iran and the whole region otherwise we are ready for any input or mediation,” Excellency Shakeri maintained.

Chairman Institute of Policy Studies Prof. Khurshid Ahmad cautioned that lot would depend upon Pak-Iran relations in emerging regional and global scenario as there were actors and factors at international level that are seemingly interested in creating obstacles in the bilateral relations. He said that both countries needed to identify the factors hampering mutual relationship.

During the discussion session, former minister for Petroleum Usman Aminuddin said that cooperation would only be fruitful if both sides played their due role, adding that Pakistan was the first country that offered economic cooperation to Iran on a number of vital projects including Pak-Iran coastal refinery project, IPI gas pipeline project, SANDAK project, purchasing of crude oil on hard cash payment by Pakistan from Iran, suppling of diesel and furnace fuel oil by Iran to Pakistan, inviting Iranian companies to come to Pakistan for oil exploration. “But in his view, no significant progress was made on these projects owing to lack of desired response from Tehran,” he deplored.

Masud Daher, an expert on trade and economy, noted that there were three frameworks to promote trade and economic cooperation between the two countries including Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) that is almost dead; border trade agreement that is frozen, and recently signed agreement of trading 600 items out of approx. 4000-5000 items that Pakistan produced. Pakistan and Iran are not competing but complementary economies. He wondered whether it was the lack of banking and communication system, lack of payment system or lack of political will that was keeping back this economic, and trade cooperation.

Chairman of seminar, former ambassador of Pakistan to Iran, Tanvir Ahmad Khan remarked that whenever Pakistan opted to become a front line state for United States, the space for making independent policy decisions for Pakistan would be ‘drastically curtailed’. “It is high time that Pakistan and Iran should review their mechanisms for frequent and fruitful interactions not only on political but also on military level to address the threats that recent developments in the region had posed to both countries,” he concluded.