Iran-Pakistan bilateral relations warming up

Tehran-Islamabad bilateral relation is warming up despite US efforts to damage the amicable ties between the two neighboring Muslim nations. Apart from being a neighbor, Iran is the only country with which Pakistan has had age-old relations, based on cultural, ethnic, and spiritual links. Pakistan shares over 900 kilometres joint border line with Iran. Iran has offered Pakistan cooperation to resolve its energy crisis but several top US officials have reportedly opposed the multibillion dollar Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project. Washington has long been pushing Islamabad to stay away from the project warning that the economic sanctions on Iran could affect the pipeline. Pakistan insists it will not accept any pressure on the gas pipeline and would implement the project to resolve its energy shortage. Pakistani officials have also vowed to go ahead with the project as the country needs energy on urgent basis. Pakistani media as well as all political and social circles are asking the government for the early completion of the project and should not accept any foreign pressure. Iran has also donated $100 million for the rehabilitation of flood victims in Pakistan. Islamabad is disappointed because some friendly countries have not yet responded positively to its appeal for assisting its flood victims. Iran was the first country to send its interior minister to personally deliver relief items for the flood hit people in southern Pakistan which also shows the fast growing relationship between the two countries. Analysts have welcomed the shift in Pakistan’s foreign policy adding that the majority of Pakistani people are fed up with the pro-US policies of the government that have badly undermined country’s national interests. It is said that the façade of Americans’ “abiding friendship” with Pakistan has already fallen to the ground. Experts say that the most far-reaching impact of strong Pakistan-Iran relationship would be the country's import of natural gas from Iran. Pakistani Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani last month paid a three-day visit to Iran. Gilani held in depth discussions with the Iranian leadership on strengthening bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional situation. President Asif Ali Zardari has also called for greater cooperation between Pakistan and Iran to combat terrorism and said that terrorism is one of the greatest challenges faced by the two countries. Iran's Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi has recently visited Pakistan to participate in Iran-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting. During the visit he said that Iran was ready to supply 2000 mw of electricity to Pakistan through transmission line. Iran and Pakistan have signed four Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)s at the conclusion of 18th session of the two countries joint economic commission. Pakistan has agreed to opening of Iranian banks in Pakistan to facilitate the business community to play their role in the development of their economies. Analysts in Pakistan have called for promotion of economic activities between the two countries and lauded the intent of leadership of both countries to push up their bilateral trade to the tune of $10 billion from the existing puny $1.2 billion. It is said that Iran-Pakistan relationship with strong economic underpinning would naturally and automatically stream up to reinforce their political and diplomatic ties robustly.