2024-04-29 22:09:34
islamabad:Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi had recently reached Pakistan. During this, both the countries assured each other of cooperation. This visit of Raisi is also important because there was tension between the two countries some time ago. On the other hand, America also expressed unhappiness with Pakistan on this. Raisi’s journey has ended but its results are still not clear. It is believed that it is entirely possible that China is pressurizing Pakistan and Iran for closeness. He is giving a kind of assurance from outside to both the countries because both are important for him. In such a situation, the question is whether the trio of Iran, Pakistan and China can create any problem for India.
According to a Firstpost report quoting experts, the question of the gas pipeline between Iran and Pakistan came up during Raisi’s visit. This was also mentioned in the joint statement of both the countries. America is pressurizing Pakistan to withdraw from this pipeline project but it cannot go back from it. Pakistan is in the uncomfortable position of paying a huge fine of $18 billion and is also in dire need of gas. Pakistan says it has requested a waiver from the US but that is unlikely to happen. There are sanctions on Iran from the US, the European Union and the United Nations. Pakistan hopes that China will help it, but in recent times, the way Chinese citizens have been attacked in Pakistan, things have become difficult.
Iran and Pakistan have been clashing over terrorism
The second focus of the joint statement issued after the Iranian President’s visit is on terrorism. This is a subject on which both the countries have been accusing each other also. Relations between Iran and Pakistan had recently deteriorated after attacks targeting terrorists on each other’s soil. Going beyond this, both sides are also trying to develop markets and trade areas. However, many organizations present on the border are creating problems on this too.
The issue of Kashmir also came up during Iran’s visit to Pakistan. Pak PM Sharif raised it in the press event but Iranian President Raisi postponed it. The joint statement on the issue said both sides highlighted the desire of the people of the region and the need to resolve the Kashmir issue through dialogue and peaceful means in accordance with international law. There is no reference to UN resolutions in this. It seems that Iran has no special interest in this.
Pakistan has no fear of US sanctions, trade with Iran worth up to 10 billion dollars
What is the challenge for India?
Even though Iran did not speak Pakistan’s language on Kashmir, there could be trouble ahead for India. A kind of group has started emerging between Iran, Russia, China, Turkey and Pakistan. Turkey has always been at odds with the West and other countries have been badly hurt by the sanctions. All countries are suppliers of military equipment to Russia and most are also associated with China’s Belt and Road Initiative. It is entirely possible that China is pushing Pakistan and Iran into this group. China gets cheap oil from Iran. Pakistan is also useful for China due to its geographical location. Any closeness in this group will be a matter of concern for India.