Strong Pakistan And Iran Needed
Rahil Yasin
July 31, 2008
LAHORE: Pakistan and Iran have diplomatic relations ever since the establishment of Pakistan and Iran was the first country to recognise the newly created state. Even before 1947, this part of the Subcontinent was in close proximity to Persia. As a result, it had strong geographical, linguistic and cultural ties with Persia for centuries. Balochistan lies on the eastern edge of the Iranian plateau. Balochistan region is mainly divided between Pakistan and Iran, as well as southern Afghanistan, forming even stronger common ethno-linguistic and cultural bond between Iranians and Pakistanis. Apart from these areas, the mainstream South Asian Islamic civilisation of Pakistan derives much from the Muslim culture of Iran. Urdu has many words from Persian and the national anthem of Pakistan is written in a heavily Persianised dialect of Urdu.
During the Reza Shah Pahlavi´s era, Iran moved closer to Pakistan in all fields and two nations worked closely with each other. Shah offered considerable aid to Pakistan, including oil and gas on concessional rate. Iran is also believed to have assisted Pakistan financially in the development of its nuclear programme after India´s surprise nuclear test detonation in 1974. After the Iranian Revolution, Pakistan was among the first countries to recognise the new Iranian government. Pakistanis and Iranians regularly visited each other´s countries, and considerable business, educational and infrastructure development took place during this period.
Many prominent tribes in Pakistan are Iranian origin. Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is half Iranian from her mother´s side. Due to political differences over the Afghan-Taliban government and the issue of sectarian clashes in Pakistan, Iran distanced itself from Pakistan after the Islamic Revolution. Despite differences on various issues, both countries were able to maintain fairly good relations.
Pakistan and Iran opposed the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and coordinated their policies on that matter. Relations between both countries have improved after the removal of Taliban in 2002. It is expected that Pakistan will enter into a gigantic gas project with Iran in the near future. Both countries have agreed to go ahead with the pipeline project despite Indian hesitation which has caused delay of more than 10 years. In 2005, Iran and Pakistan had $ 500 million of trade.
Iran´s post-revolutionary idealistic and hardline foreign policy during the Iran-Iraq war was replaced by more pragmatic one after the death of Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989. Relations improved with its non-revolutionary Muslim neighbours, particularly Saudi Arabia. Following the 2005 election of President Ahmedinejad, Iran has returned to more Islamic revolutionary policies. Iran and the US relations have been disrupted since the Islamic revolution. Iran does not maintain official diplomatic relations with either the US or Israel, and it views the Middle East peace process with scepticism.
Currently, Western leaders and media are greatly concerned about the nuclear programme of Iran. There is growing apprehension that the new Iranian government is determined on the production of nuclear weapons, despite its constant denial.
The Iranian government insists that its nuclear activities are directed solely towards a civil nuclear power programme. However, many states share the conviction that Iran is dedicated to becoming a nuclear weapons power and that it must not be allowed to develop the capability of producing nuclear weapon materials. They fear that a fully indigenous civil nuclear power programme involves all the dual use technology necessary to produce military fissile material. Iran is refusing to stop enrichment due to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which allows a country to enrich fuel for civil nuclear power under the inspection from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Pakistan and Iran have somewhat divergent perspectives with respect to the presence of foreign powers in the region. Iran is concerned about the post-September 11 military cooperation between the US and Pakistan. However, both countries share long-term perspectives on how to deal with the intrusiveness of foreign powers in the region. Pakistan and Iran, for instance, opposed the US action in Iraq, calling for a central role for the United Nations. Although Pakistan and Iran have reached a basic geo-strategic understanding regarding Afghanistan and Iraq, their relations may be harmed as a result of the hostility between Iran and the US.
Iran is pleased by the recent statements of President Musharraf that Pakistan´s nuclear assets are under strict custodial controls and that any clandestine proliferation network has been dismantled. Iran´s and Pakistan´s concerns and interests are interlinked in the new regional and international scenario.
New problems as well as new opportunities have been created for both countries, affecting their bilateral and multilateral relations, since September 11, 2001. Both countries need to devote more energy to boost their economic trade, enhance their security cooperation and to identify practical ways to tackle problems facing the region. Pakistan has always desired peace and stability in the Middle East and Gulf region. Pakistan always backed Iran´s inalienable right of using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Contemporary world politics makes it necessary for two nations to integrate into international unions. In these international unions, which are usually based on geographic location, such factors as natural resources, trading blocs, and even cultural values play an important role. Many neighbouring countries combine their resources under such organisations, create defence alliances, and cooperate on a wide array of issues.
It seems that the West has declared a war against Muslim countries based on false pretexts after 9/11. They have blamed all Muslims as terrorists and extremists. They would not allow any other Islamic nuclear power in the region, as they still not have accepted Pakistan as a nuclear power. In fact, these eventualities are very unlikely; or rather, they could only happen as a result of the US military intervention in Pakistan. So far, different tactics are being used to stop Iran from pursuing its nuclear programme. This is a crucial time for Muslims as the US and the West had already removed governments of Iraq and Afghanistan, killing hundreds of thousands Muslims. Any military action against Iran would also not be the solution to the issue. Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a veiled warning against any attack on Iran during his first visit to Tehran in six decades – a mission reflecting Russian-Iranian efforts to curb US influence. China´s Foreign Minister, Li Zhaoxing also said that his country opposes Iran being referred to the United Nations Security Council over its nuclear programme, and claimed that the Iranian government had a very positive attitude in its cooperation with the IAEA.
Muslim nations should shun their differences. They should change their foreign policy towards the US and the West. They should make an organisation like Nato, the OSCE, the EU, Nafta, OPEC, Asean, the G-8, the D-8, and APEC or reorganise OIC. The goals of such a union should be to preserve peace, control arms race, resolve disputes through diplomacy, promote socio-economic development, and protect fundamental human rights and democracy. They should sign joint security pacts, make combine force and enhance trade to be fully independent of the US and the West. Attack on one nation should be considered an attack on all. Muslim countries need stronger Iran and Pakistan to overcome the influence of the US and the West in the region as well as Israel´s threat in the Mideast. To make Pakistan and Iran stronger, it is important to have democracy in Pakistan and back the just stance of Iran to continue civil nuclear programme.
The writer can be contacted at rahil.yasin@gmail.com
During the Reza Shah Pahlavi´s era, Iran moved closer to Pakistan in all fields and two nations worked closely with each other. Shah offered considerable aid to Pakistan, including oil and gas on concessional rate. Iran is also believed to have assisted Pakistan financially in the development of its nuclear programme after India´s surprise nuclear test detonation in 1974. After the Iranian Revolution, Pakistan was among the first countries to recognise the new Iranian government. Pakistanis and Iranians regularly visited each other´s countries, and considerable business, educational and infrastructure development took place during this period.
Many prominent tribes in Pakistan are Iranian origin. Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is half Iranian from her mother´s side. Due to political differences over the Afghan-Taliban government and the issue of sectarian clashes in Pakistan, Iran distanced itself from Pakistan after the Islamic Revolution. Despite differences on various issues, both countries were able to maintain fairly good relations.
Pakistan and Iran opposed the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and coordinated their policies on that matter. Relations between both countries have improved after the removal of Taliban in 2002. It is expected that Pakistan will enter into a gigantic gas project with Iran in the near future. Both countries have agreed to go ahead with the pipeline project despite Indian hesitation which has caused delay of more than 10 years. In 2005, Iran and Pakistan had $ 500 million of trade.
Iran´s post-revolutionary idealistic and hardline foreign policy during the Iran-Iraq war was replaced by more pragmatic one after the death of Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989. Relations improved with its non-revolutionary Muslim neighbours, particularly Saudi Arabia. Following the 2005 election of President Ahmedinejad, Iran has returned to more Islamic revolutionary policies. Iran and the US relations have been disrupted since the Islamic revolution. Iran does not maintain official diplomatic relations with either the US or Israel, and it views the Middle East peace process with scepticism.
Currently, Western leaders and media are greatly concerned about the nuclear programme of Iran. There is growing apprehension that the new Iranian government is determined on the production of nuclear weapons, despite its constant denial.
The Iranian government insists that its nuclear activities are directed solely towards a civil nuclear power programme. However, many states share the conviction that Iran is dedicated to becoming a nuclear weapons power and that it must not be allowed to develop the capability of producing nuclear weapon materials. They fear that a fully indigenous civil nuclear power programme involves all the dual use technology necessary to produce military fissile material. Iran is refusing to stop enrichment due to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which allows a country to enrich fuel for civil nuclear power under the inspection from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Pakistan and Iran have somewhat divergent perspectives with respect to the presence of foreign powers in the region. Iran is concerned about the post-September 11 military cooperation between the US and Pakistan. However, both countries share long-term perspectives on how to deal with the intrusiveness of foreign powers in the region. Pakistan and Iran, for instance, opposed the US action in Iraq, calling for a central role for the United Nations. Although Pakistan and Iran have reached a basic geo-strategic understanding regarding Afghanistan and Iraq, their relations may be harmed as a result of the hostility between Iran and the US.
Iran is pleased by the recent statements of President Musharraf that Pakistan´s nuclear assets are under strict custodial controls and that any clandestine proliferation network has been dismantled. Iran´s and Pakistan´s concerns and interests are interlinked in the new regional and international scenario.
New problems as well as new opportunities have been created for both countries, affecting their bilateral and multilateral relations, since September 11, 2001. Both countries need to devote more energy to boost their economic trade, enhance their security cooperation and to identify practical ways to tackle problems facing the region. Pakistan has always desired peace and stability in the Middle East and Gulf region. Pakistan always backed Iran´s inalienable right of using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Contemporary world politics makes it necessary for two nations to integrate into international unions. In these international unions, which are usually based on geographic location, such factors as natural resources, trading blocs, and even cultural values play an important role. Many neighbouring countries combine their resources under such organisations, create defence alliances, and cooperate on a wide array of issues.
It seems that the West has declared a war against Muslim countries based on false pretexts after 9/11. They have blamed all Muslims as terrorists and extremists. They would not allow any other Islamic nuclear power in the region, as they still not have accepted Pakistan as a nuclear power. In fact, these eventualities are very unlikely; or rather, they could only happen as a result of the US military intervention in Pakistan. So far, different tactics are being used to stop Iran from pursuing its nuclear programme. This is a crucial time for Muslims as the US and the West had already removed governments of Iraq and Afghanistan, killing hundreds of thousands Muslims. Any military action against Iran would also not be the solution to the issue. Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a veiled warning against any attack on Iran during his first visit to Tehran in six decades – a mission reflecting Russian-Iranian efforts to curb US influence. China´s Foreign Minister, Li Zhaoxing also said that his country opposes Iran being referred to the United Nations Security Council over its nuclear programme, and claimed that the Iranian government had a very positive attitude in its cooperation with the IAEA.
Muslim nations should shun their differences. They should change their foreign policy towards the US and the West. They should make an organisation like Nato, the OSCE, the EU, Nafta, OPEC, Asean, the G-8, the D-8, and APEC or reorganise OIC. The goals of such a union should be to preserve peace, control arms race, resolve disputes through diplomacy, promote socio-economic development, and protect fundamental human rights and democracy. They should sign joint security pacts, make combine force and enhance trade to be fully independent of the US and the West. Attack on one nation should be considered an attack on all. Muslim countries need stronger Iran and Pakistan to overcome the influence of the US and the West in the region as well as Israel´s threat in the Mideast. To make Pakistan and Iran stronger, it is important to have democracy in Pakistan and back the just stance of Iran to continue civil nuclear programme.
The writer can be contacted at rahil.yasin@gmail.com
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