An opportunity for Pakistan
Soon after the conclusion of the July nuclear agreement, Iran started drawing European and Asian dignitaries and businessmen in droves. Germany and Spain dispatched large trade delegations to Iran. Ads for European cars and luxury goods started reappearing in Tehran. Airlines in Dubai began to add new Iran routes to meet growing demand. Now that the UN sanctions have been lifted Iran will be courted by many more countries. The visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping is the beginning. Modi will not take long to reach Tehran.
Iran, which had been tied down and isolated for more than three decades, would soon gain its rightful place in the international community despite its cleric-ridden polity. It is home to some 80 million people, sits atop the world’s fourth-largest oil reserves and the second-biggest stores of natural gas, and has well-established manufacturing and agricultural industries contributing to a $400 billion economy. Iran has infrastructure, institutions and education. Despite the long economic blockade, Iran’s foreign reserves stand at $115-125bn.
Pakistan’s close relations with Saudi Arabia, particularly Sharif family’s personal ties with Saudi royalty, have acted as a constraint in taking the relations with Iran to a higher stage. The Prime Minister conducted 14 foreign tours in the first 18 months of his tenure but did not care to pay a visit to the next door neighbour for more than two and a half years. Pakistan being deficient in energy needs Iranian power and gas. It requires more Iranian electricity and has to efficiently implement the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project. Agreements that have been delayed due to sanctions have to be implemented. Projects still on paper like rail links planned between Gwadar and Chahbahar, a new shipping service and flights from Gwadar to Iranian cities have to be pursued seriously. Challenges posed to relations with Iran have to be met efficiently. Militant groups launching attacks inside Iran should be treated the same way Pakistan treats local terrorists.
