Now to the implementation of IP gas pipeline
The pressures have not worked. The gas deal with Iran has been signed. To assure that the agreement would be fully implemented, President Zardari has visited Tehran. Pakistan facing the energy crunch had no option but to go ahead with the import of gas from Iran because it could not wait any longer. The Iranian gas could be brought to Pakistan within twenty two months addressing the country’s power problem at the earliest. Part of the imported gas will be consumed by power plants to generate around 4,000 megawatts of electricity. What is needed now is to efficiently implement the project. The first phase of the pipeline construction inside Pakistan would be financed by Iran. This will however be completed in a few months. The next government will have to arrange $1 billion to complete the project. By the time the gas is delivered the energy needs of the country would have further increased. Pakistan should therefore remain committed to the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project also. For this it should work in tandem with Washington and Kabul to improve the security situation in Afghanistan which is a pre-requisite for implementation of the project.
Out of the box solutions need to be evolved to ensure the safety of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline which will traverse hundreds of kilometers of insurgency hit Balochistan. To settle matters with those on the mountains now becomes Pakistan’s economic need also. For this talks should be the first priority. On their success hinges not only the security of the pipeline but also that of the proposed Iran-financed oil refinery and the traffic from and to the deep sea port when it becomes fully functional. The Balochistan issue needs to be resolved politically. The first step should be to ensure free and fair elections in the province without any interference from the ubiquitous agencies. The second step should be the empowerment of the popularly elected government in the province to hold talks with the Baloch rebels. If the establishment has no objection to talks with the TTP, there should be no problem talking to the Baloch rebels either.
The Pak-Iran agreement which was brokered despite strong opposition from the US is yet another indicator of the diminishing control of the super power. The US should realize that there is unanimity among all political parties on the need for the pipeline. There is also a consensus over Pakistan maintaining friendly relations with Washington while giving priority to its national interests. Now that Pakistan is going to build the pipeline, India too might in the days to come like to join in. Pakistan should welcome the move whenever it is made. Pakistan would be more secure and prosperous with more stake holders in regional cooperation.
