US stance hypocritical

Why Pakistan needs Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline

The US continues with its threatening posture towards Pakistan over the implementation of the Pak-Iran gas Pipeline. The latest warning came in the backdrop of the resolve expressed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his speech at the UN General Assembly, to go ahead with the project, vitally needed for the energy-starved Pakistan. US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, in response to a question by the Chairman Senate Foreign Relations Committee Senator Robert Menendez told the lawmakers, “On Pakistan, we have had those discussions (on Iran-Pak gas pipeline) and will continue with the Pakistani government. My own assessment is it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. But they (Pakistan) certainly understand where we are and what our sanctions require should it proceed.”

Similar warning was given by US State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland on the eve of the inauguration of the construction of Pakistani section of the Pak-Iran gas pipeline on 11 March, 2013. She said, “We have serious concerns, if this project actually goes forward, Iran Sanctions Act 1996 would be triggered. We’ve been straight up with the Pakistanis about these concerns.” US Secretary of State John Kerry during his recent visit to Pakistan also raised the issue with the prime minister and hinted at the possibility of sanctions against Pakistan. The foreign ministry handed him a non-paper on the project spelling out the rationale and importance of the venture for Pakistan as well as urging US to look at the proposition realistically.

It is pertinent to note that a US government report on implementation of UN and US sanctions against Iran, pointed out that 22 countries are defying the sanctions and continuing with their commercial relations with Iran. According to the report, India topped the list of bad guys which also included Russia, China, Brazil, Belarus and Turkey. The report also highlighted that the US had not been consistent in enforcing the sanctions against the defiant countries and consequently they have had very little desired impact.

Another noteworthy point is that the UN sanctions against Iran only pertain to transactions regarding oil and petroleum products and do not cover the gas sector. Hence Pakistan is not under any international obligation to scrap the agreement with Iran. Only the sanctions imposed against Iran by US cover the oil and gas sector. So if Pakistan goes ahead with the Pak-Iran gas pipeline, the US can invoke its 1996 Act to take punitive measures against Pakistan on bilateral level. It is also noteworthy that US in the last 12 years has not taken any action at the bilateral level against powers like Russia, China, India and Turkey for defying the US sanctions regime against Iran. Turkey is still the biggest importer of gas from Iran. Indian companies are also collaborating with Iran for developing gas fields and refineries. In view of foregoing facts the US stance on the issue is hypocritical to say the least and steeped in the maxim ‘my enemy is your enemy’.

The Pak-Iran gas pipeline project if completed as envisaged in the agreement has the potential to add 4,500 MW of electricity to the national grid, which will be a quantum jump in the production of power and could go a long way in fulfilling the energy needs of the energy-starved Pakistan. The project is very much in our national interests and also tangos well with the new narrative to build regional linkages for promoting political stability in the region in line with our strategic regional goals. Pakistan and Iran are two brotherly Muslim countries with a geographical proximity to each other and having strong historical bonds between them. The non-implementation of the project under pressure from US can lead to estrangement between the two countries and jeopardise the achievement of our other foreign policy goals in the region. Pakistan therefore cannot afford to wriggle out of this venture for appeasing US against its own national interests. The PML-N government by standing firm on the issue has exhibited a great vision. Pakistan belongs to South Asia and our economic prosperity and security is inextricably linked to our own region.

The US must realise that Pakistan as its ally in the war on terror has already suffered tremendously in men and material and can no more bear the burden of promoting her objectives in the region at the cost of its own long term interests dictated by the geographical and emerging geo-political realities. As they say there are no permanent friends and foes in the conduct of international relations. Who knows US and Iran might sort out their difference and become friends again in the near future, for which there are already indications of renewed contacts between the two countries at the top level. In the event of this perceived eventuality, Pakistan will be the biggest loser in case it succumbs to US pressure now.

Pakistan is already in the process of recalibrating its relations with the US and removing the irritants that have marred ties between the two countries in the backdrop of unilateral military actions by US within Pakistani territory and the continuation of drone attacks in complete disregard to the repeated requests and diplomatic approaches. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his ensuring visit to US is likely to discuss the whole range of issues with President Obama and the Pak-Iran gas pipeline project will surely be raised by the US. It is hoped that Nawaz Sharif will be able to convince the US president about the desirability and indispensability of this project for Pakistan. The visit will be a challenging undertaking by the prime minister as it would put his diplomatic and schmoozing skills to a severe test.

In case the US remains adamant on the issue, the prime minister will have to show the same resolve and determination as he exhibited while going ahead with the nuclear explosions in our supreme national interests despite US pressure. Pakistan did survive US sanctions while pursuing its nuclear programme to ward off nuclear threat from India and can again show the same resilience and determination to safeguard its vital national interests. The entire nation will support the government in this regard. Where there is a will, there is a way. Despite the resource-constraint at the moment, Pakistan would hopefully be able to muster finances to fund the project for its on time completion.

Malik Muhammad Ashraf is an academic. He can be contacted at: [email protected].