An isolated Pakistan
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was spot on – about the three-way transit accord between Iran, India and Afghanistan – that it “was not merely an economic document but a political and regional one”. He was slightly more politically correct, though, when he said this initiative was not “against any country”, only for peace and stability in the region. Now, given enough time, money and goodwill, the North South Transport Corridor would provide linkages to the trio, especially Chabahar port, from South Asia to Europe. That works even better for Iran, considering just before the three heads of state shook hands, India agreed to provide $500m to develop Chabahar.
To give credit where it is due, India was after all the last – not the first – big market player to rush to Tehran after sanctions were lifted. Who’s who of Europe, not to mention players from the Americas, have already courted the Iranians in hopes for a piece of its commodity rich market. And, so far, Modi’s not only walked back with the biggest prize, but he’s also upset Chinese plans to bankroll the Iranian port; affecting strategising all the way to the US Pivot to Asia. If that does not count for top notch diplomacy, little does, especially in South Asia.
Pakistan, meanwhile, never felt the need to update its foreign policy with changing times. Even securing the local front – in the form of Zarb-e-Azb – only came after a great deal of unnecessary foot-dragging. And, considering how we have handled Iran and Afghanistan, especially, over the last few years, should Islamabad really be surprised that the two have entered into a beneficial alliance with India – keeping in mind the region’s evolving dynamics? Worse, still, is the fact that Pakistan still seems unwilling, or just unable, to snap out of its diplomatic paralysis. We are still without a foreign minister as well as a workable foreign policy. The result, naturally, is that we are isolated. Pakistan must take immediate notice of these trends and update and upgrade its foreign policy without any more delay.