Pakistan-Iran
February 10, 2012
Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said on Thursday that Pakistan would host Afghanistan and Iran for a two-day counter-terrorism conference on February 16 and 17 in Islamabad in which Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would take part.
"The trilateral summit is important for the leaders to get together and discuss important regional issues pertaining to counter-terrorism and organised crime, including drug trafficking," announced Basit.
The announcement comes at a time when tensions between the United States and Iran are at their peak. On Monday, US President Barack Obama unveiled new sanctions on Iran's central bank in an effort put pressure on Tehran to reverse the course of its controversial nuclear program.
Energy crisis versus political repercussions
Islamabad said it would move ahead with the summit and its energy projects with Tehran despite US objections. Basit said Islamabad "opposes any new conflict in the region and calls for dialogue."
Islamabadis pressing ahead with a multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline project to import fuel from Iran which is expected to be completed in 2014. The agreement was signed in 2010 despite strong opposition by the US.
"We are looking to complete the pipeline project by 2014 to meet our energy requirements. It is important for our economic growth," said Basit.
Michael Kugelman, an expert on the region at the Wilson Center in Washington, told Deutsche Welle that the US does not like strengthening Iran, however, he acknowledged Pakistan's energy needs were immense.
"I can imagine that the US is not pleased, but it is important to be realistic. Pakistan is an energy insecure country. It is going to need to do what is in its best interest, and if it involves working with countries like Iran, then so be it," said Kugelman.
But the conflict between the West and Iran has heightened manifold in the past few months. Both the US and the European Union have imposed economic sanctions on Tehran, which maintains that its nuclear program is meant for peaceful purposes. Western countries believe the hardline Iranian regime is secretly building a nuclear bomb.
Pakistan in search of new allies
Farooq Sulehria, a Pakistani journalist and political activist based in London, told Deutsche Welle that Islamabad was "desperate to look for new allies in the region." It would, however, be a difficult task for Pakistan to forge partnership with Tehran, he added.
"We must not forget that Pakistan and Iran do not have very cordial relations. Iran accuses Islamabad of creating unrest in its eastern parts by training Jundullah, a terrorist organization responsible for several bomb attacks inside Iran. Therefore, it won't be easy for Islamabad to convince Tehran that their interests are the same," said Sulehria.
Sulehria was also of the opinion that Islamabad's engagement with Tehran would not go down well with the Sunni militant groups in Pakistan and its number one ally Saudi Arabia, which oppose the Shiite Iran.
"Pakistan fears that Western nations might impose sanctions on its nuclear program in future. These, in my view, are precautionary measures undertaken by Islamabad to put pressure on the US," opined Sulehria.
He also believed that unlike Iran, which is rich in oil resources, Islamabad could not afford a protracted conflict with the international community and ultimately it would surrender to its pressure.
Author: Shamil Shams
Editor: Sarah Berning