The contrast couldn’t be sharper between India and Pakistan. India is a mature, functioning democracy and an ‘emerging power’ with an independent foreign policy, whereas Pakistan is a moth-eaten country tottering on the abyss of failure as a dysfunctional state lacking in self-respect. At least, this is how Indian propaganda presents things.
Yet, hardly 72 hours passed since the Indian establishment began sensitizing the domestic opinion that it is ending all oil imports from Iran and Pakistan takes a tumultuous step toward the realization of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.
The formal inauguration of the $7.5 billion 1500-kilometre project took place at a ceremony earlier today, which was attended by the presidents of the two countries. Clearly, whereas Indians chickened out in the face of sustained American pressure, Pakistan is thumbing the nose at Washington.
The Indian leadership decided to end the Iranian ’sweet’ crude imports despite long-term agreements because the Americans do not like the transaction. But the ‘weak’ Pakistani leadership knows what is in the country’s core interests and is determined to pursue the objective no matter what it takes.
What is all our tall claims to being a regional power worth if our leaders lack spine? The spluttering Indian economy can certainly do with the assured supplies of Iranian crude. This is particularly important because our fertilizer industry is highly subsidized and our government has pledged to do away with subsidies incrementally in its passion to cut the budget deficit.
No doubt, Pakistan too faced enormous pressure and blackmail from the US not to proceed with the Iran gas pipeline project, but the country faces acute energy shortage and decided that it makes eminent sense to import gas from next-door neighbor. Period.
Now, what can we expect in the downstream?. Let me anticipate. Only last week the US state department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said, “If this deal is finalized for a proposed Iran-Pakistan pipeline, it would raise serious concerns under our Iran Sanctions Act. We’ve made that absolutely clear to our Pakistani counterparts.”
Obviously, the US threats didn’t work. The US regulations stipulate that transactions involving gasoline or other fuels can trigger American sanctions. But to my mind, the US dares not impose any sanctions against Pakistan.
How can you sanction a country and then drop down on your knees and beg for its cooperation so that you can evacuate thousands of your troops and their equipment through Karachi Port? No, Sir, you simply can’t. One thing at a time, Sir.
And the Americans are pragmatic in such situations. So, they will come up with a face-saving formula by saying that the sanctions will be imposed in due course when Pakistan opens the tap and actually draws the gas supplied through the pipeline — and not at this stage.
Second, to be sure, Iran will now take matters one step further and redeem its pledge to build an oil refinery in Gwadar as well, which will mesh with the Chinese plans to build an ‘oil city’ in the Pakistani port (which now China manages).
Clearly, today’s ceremony commencing the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project is an event of momentous significance for the geopolitics of the region. From this point, China is just a step away from sourcing Iranian energy through pipelines via Pakistan.
By the way, today’s ceremony was held in Chah Bahar — yes, Chah Bahar, which our mandarins cite as India’s gateway to Central Asia and Afghanistan, ‘bypassing’ Pakistan. Sure thing, these Iranians and Pakistanis have a quaint sense of humor.
In the bargain, they have exposed our officials who keep bragging that India is about to get ‘connectivity’ with Central Asia (via Iran ‘bypassing’ Pakistan); and, with Russia and Eurasia through a North-South Corridor (again, via Iran ‘bypassing’ Pakistan); and is planning to make a multi-billion investment in Afghanistan to extract iron ores which will be transported to our country (yet again, via Iran ‘bypassing’ Pakistan).
Our relations with Iran being in tatters, India might as well stay put in South Asia, It has no big role in Central Asia or Afghanistan. That is the honest truth, whereas, the latest yarn being spun for the consumption of our gullible public is that India is going to get connected with Kazakhstan, of all places, and with Russia eventually via an oil pipeline.
Make no mistake about it, all that the Indian leadership is really interested in are the LNG imports from America (once Uncle Sam agrees, of course). Washington has sought a quid pro quo — if our leadership ends the crude oil imports from Iran, the US will lift the ban on LNG exports to India. But then, you might ask why it is so terribly important to import LNG from the US. Good question. It’s the shale gas, Stupid! Own a shale gas company in the US today, and you’re going to hit the jackpot. Got it?
However, sometimes I wonder whether it really could be the pressure tactic by Washington and/or our corporate lobby or whether it is also the wink from the Sunni oligarchies of the Persian Gulf, which is coaxing our government to roll back the ties with Iran. It seems a combination of all three. Don’t overlook that the Saudis have their conduit to the Indian political elites, especially in regions like Uttar Pradesh or Kerala.
But then, Pakistan is also a major Sunni Muslim country and it also has a terrific relationship with Saudi Arabia. In fact, the two countries have shared interests over many strategic issues. They have been the mentors of the Taliban.
How come Pakistani diplomacy is able to manage Islamabad’s relations with Riyadh and Teheran simultaneously? The contrast is so striking.
Pakistan is Sunni, and Iran, Shia, and there will never be very warm relations between the two when the Taliban is busy bumping all Shias in Pakistan to Jannat. Oil is a way of both countries trying to tell the US to mind its business, but neither can be trusted. India has no foreign policy worth the name, but in this one case, I think we will stay out of trouble by not getting involved.
Pakis will never go down as long as they keep sleeping below the Yankees.
Its not that US is going to support us in long run. They have their own interest to balance power in Asia with China
CAN some expert throw light on the subject . Can we ask former secertary foreign affairs on this subject .
My Fellow Citizens
I am greatly saddened by certain events which have taken place in the recent past.I will list out the events for you to comprehend where i am coming from.
Firstly, Appointment of a non elected World Bank / IMF representative as a Prime Minister of our Country
Secondly the massive corruption scandals permeating everyy single dealing of this govt.
Thirdly The fiasco with Male
Fourthly The handing over of Gwadar to China
Fithly The beginning of construction of Iran Pakistan Pipeline
Sixthly The slap in the face of our nation by a small country called Italy
Seventhly no serious effort or even a modicum of effort to take out criminals from the parliament.
It seems that the Congress Party and its leadership are only interested in ensuring their swiss bank accounts are full. Rest the standing of our country is in such doldrums that any one can slap this nation and move on in the truest traditions of Manmohan Singh Led Govt.
And i fear that this same govt will again come to power in 2014. the same people will continue eating our country from inside out.
The dishonesty is appalling that not one minister in their speech or action has ever stated of putting the nation first. it is all about perpetuating misrule.
now is a time to seriously reconsider where are we going… what do we really want… why do we accept such misrule… such politicians… there are more than 500 schemes of the govt which are named after the gandhi family… it seems this is the only family which has ever done anything for this country.
the only thing this family and the present government has done is make money….
this sorrow…
i am hoping for a modicum of sense in the population somewhere to bring a positive change in the country…atleast the congress govt especially the worldbank and imf employee needs to go from our country…
regards
Sir, we in Pakistan have a two year vacation from intense U.S. Pressure. Our biggest challenge was the links of security establishment with USA. This has effectively been taken care of. Now we hope to act as a bridge between near West and East in Asia. With better relations with India on the horizon, this policy is in our, regional, and indeed global interest.
Peace from Lahore
Indian leaders are FOOLs, they are flop in DIPLOMACY. while pakistan is getting billions of dollars and aid from US. and NATO, India is paying 2-3 times of actual cost of every arm. U.S is rewarding pakistan with Planes, arms, money and diplomatic support. While Indian leaders are ULLU KE PATTHHE” who just travel around the world with their families.
USA putting pressure,China putting pressure, Srilanka putting pressure, even Mali is also shaming us. Italian marines made fun of Indians and their laws and sitting pretty in Italy.
Why is this happening to us? Is Indian Foreign Service people are a bunch of morons?
Or even worst are we the people of India THE MORONS OF THE HIGHEST ORDER to elect such a worst government ever in the post independent history of India.
Either you are incredibly dumb or you are doing some wishful thinking to satisfy your anti-U.S. mind…..there is zero chance of any Iran-Pakistan pipeline…any statement from Paki leaders is to satisfy their domestic agendas…with the current Genocide of Shias going on in Pakistan (after having reduced Hindus to a minuscule minority…ditto for Christians), Paki leaders are trying to install some confidence in the Shias by supporting the ‘punya-bhoomi’ of Shia..i.e. Iran…no other reason.
crap article which doesnt give any real facts, the chinese company which was supposed to finance the project has back out the, the russian company which was supposed to lay the pipelines and necessary infrastructure has also backed out
Remember last year, we exported onions to pakistan at Rs 28/- kilo. and then we had a severe crisis and we imported the same onions from pakistan at Rs 42/- a kilo….superb economics.
why is India doing this. During the reign of PV Narashimha Rao, once the Organization of Islamic countries were going to pass a resolution against India on Kashmir. At that time Iran being a shia country, sided with India and vetoed the resolution that was brought up by Sunni muslim countries. Iran is not at all like terror exporters as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are. If we can afford to have one friend in muslims country, its Iran. Wonder what happened to our strategic thinking… or what exactly are our political leaders afraid of in playing simple common sense. Can we expect any better… during the first term of UPA, our PM cancelled a visit to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh due to Chinese pressure. Really.. the PM of a country fears to visit his own territory by foreign pressure… can anything be more shameful ? We really need Narendra Modi as PM. One who can put India before everything else… my country men,,, there are issues that only Mr Modi can handle with steadfastness, let him run this country for 5 years atleast.
Problems with india and hindus is they think differently from westreners. the Ms and Xs think differently. they are both very agressive and they play agressive games. So they both understand each other better.They respect only those who have power. GOI needs to be agressive about indian interests. just like our neighbors. Imagine they got billions in american aid, nuclear capability, etc etc. The west will keep subduing india as long as we bow.
well that’s really not the case.though u r right upto some extent ,BUT CERTAINLY not totally… Pakistan can bargain on this with US . we will help u with Taliban but u don’t tell us anything on the pipeline..infact Pakistan has got $ s also from the US.
but the real issue here is that india was NOT getting any guarantee from Iran or Pakistan on the security of the pipeline.it was to travel from iran to india vis Pakistan.nobody was willing to give a guarantee. so india had no choice but to back out… why isn’t this highlighted in your article..
please do not sell ur country so low Mr BHadrakumar!!1
India should build a pipeline in the oceon.Though it may be more expensive but will provide future releif if there is war between Pak and India
Spot on. Our leaders are indeed spineless. Barking dogs only. We need BJP back in power and Modi as PM. God save India from Congress.
every day there is scores of killing of shias in pak.how long the iran psyche will accept this?how crude pipe from india to iran via pak is safe when its passing through rogue country. India is absolutely right in avoiding anything to do with these isolated and degenerated countries who kill themselves in the name nonsence.
You are the man….
Sitting a tongue long distance away from US, ’small countries’ like Venezuela and Cuba were able to put into place the ‘threats’ from the big brother. But Inida spineless class decided not to consider these threats as from a ‘big brother’, instead went on to lay the pride naked and without resistance. They just followed the psychological advice for potential ra**pe victims… if you can not resist it, enjoy it! Spineless is not the right term to use for describing such a leadership.
Be on the good side of US will help in the long run. Iran with a freak like Ahmedinijad, sooner or later will be bumped off and Pakis go down with it.