Is it a Major Shift in Foreign Policy?

Syed Shahzad Alam on 7, Mar 2013 | 31 Comments | in Category: Around the World

Syed Shahzad Alam

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Pak-Iran Gas pipeline project is about to launch on March 11 this year and if everything goes well, it will be completed within 15 months. In 2010 Pakistan and Iran agreed that Tehran would supply between 750 million cubic feet (21 million cubic meters) and one billion cubic feet per day of gas by mid-2015.

To me, it’s a pleasant surprise that despite enormous pressure from USA, Pakistan is showing steadfastness in completion of Gas Project from Iran believing it an affordable energy and in national interest. US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson said that America supports the Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India (TAPI) pipeline project instead of Iran Pakistan Gas Pipeline Project. Whereas US State Department spokesman said that it’s in Pakistan’s best interests to avoid any activity of violating American restrictions on major financial deals with Iran that may lead to any sanction on Pakistan and US is helping Pakistan for providing a better way to meet its energy needs.

Is it a major foreign-policy shift from Pakistan?

Against American pressure, so far, Pakistani leadership is showing resistance and made it clear that it would complete the venture and least bothered about the threats of US sanctions. Pakistan must be enjoying full support from China and Russia on this issue as since last two years Pak-Russia relations have entered in new phase and China is Pakistan’s old dearest friend.

Recently President Zardari said Pakistan was a sovereign country and had every right to pursue projects in national interest and did not intend to offend anyone. Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline should be viewed purely in the context of meeting its energy needs. He also hoped the critics of the project (specially USA) would realize Pakistan’s energy crisis and the need for importing gas from Iran. Iranian President Ahmadinejad also dismissed the US pressure on the IP project, saying the America cannot affect the project and the gas will reach Pakistan as per the plan. Iran has already completed a 900-km portion of 56-inch diameter pipeline in its territory and the remaining 200 km up to the Pakistani border is about to complete in next year.

For Pakistan, arrangement of funds from Financial Institutions for this project would be very difficult, as everybody knows these institutions are on beck and call of USA and was the main reason that Pakistan could not start construction of 780 kilometers of the pipeline on its side that was to cost $1.5 billion. So at the moment, this seems a big hurdle for completion of this project in time.

Can UN resolutions against Iran, stop Pakistan to carry out this Project successfully?

According to Pakistani officials IP project is beyond the scope of relevant UN resolutions, which we are obliged to comply with like all other member states. Among other regional countries, China and India are also importing substantial amounts of oil from Iran, India’s second major oil supplier after Saudi Arabia and China’s third-largest supplier of crude after Saudi Arabia and Angola. So it seems no issue of any objection from UNO and Pakistan can easily deal with US pressure if its regional strategic partner is on its back and completion of this project will be a big step to further reduce American influence in Pakistan that is already on decline…. So pressure is more on America than Pakistan.

What Pakistan should be ready for?

Allegations of increasing insurgency into Afghanistan resulting into more Drone attacks in Pakistan for which Obama Administration is already determined. Same allegations are also expected from India with mounting tension on border. A Super Power can also target some areas of Balochistan saying hitting Taliban’s hideouts but actually creating hurdles to Gas Project. From other players there may be a new severe wave of terrorism in Balochistan and many more… This is the gray area of determination on this IP Project and of course nation should stand united to face all those consequences.

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S Nasrullah

Are we truly a SOVEREIGN State? If Pakistan is, then why does it not protest the blatant incursions into its sovereignty through Drone attacks? If the Drone attacks are a part of the deal for which Pakistan has been the recipient of nearly 3.5 Bn Dollars aid in terms of money and material, then the Powers-to-be in Pakistan have grossly undersold its sovereiegnty. Fighting a war for someone as soldiers of forune, the crazy Administration of PPP and its cohorts have stretched the theater of War into Pakistan borders. Purely a case of “cutting one’s nose to spite one’s face”. Does it ever occur to the people of Pakistan that the attack on the Mehran Base in Karachi had the prime object of neutralizing Pakistani superiority over its traditional rival over its capability to scan and span its aerial eyes through Orion AWACs covering the entire length and breadth of Pakistan. Out of the Four Operational Orion AWACs, two have been burnt and the third has been damaged. Who has inflamed the wrath of the unruly Taliban to wreak such disastrous reprisals against the soldarity of Pakistan, they once swore to uphold?. The policy to weaken Pakistan and surrogate its sovereignty to some kind of hegemony is well on its way to accomplishment. The sooner the curse of PPP govt and its corrupt Allies is over, the better it is for Pakistan.

Too late the Hero for the criminal AZ to stress that as a Sovereign State we should put our interest uppermost. How did this realization occur? Why did you dilly dally the issue of IPI since 2010 and why you have suddenly changed your stance and your sights? Simple – a ruse and a gimmick to gain VOTES for the coming Elections?

Every country’s Foreign Policy is dictated by its Geography. Unfortunately, in case of Pakistan, its Foreign and Domestic Policies are both mortgaged to donors who not only control Pakistan economy, but have stranglehold on its lifeline as well. When US Military Brass visit Pakistan, they are afforded VVIP Protocol and when their Pakistani counterparts visit USA, they are treated at levels lower than the Under Secretary. If a CIA Operative were to murder Two Pakistani counter-espionage operatives, the entire govt machinery runs amok to protect Raymond Davis, to exonerate him on the false pretense of Diplomatic Immunity and when it fails, they turn heaven and earth upside down to absolve him and compensate the berieved families to buy their Pardon.

IPI is more pragmatic because of its close proximity and the traditional amity and brotherhood that exist between the two neighbors. The sudden stoking of brutal Sectarian mayhem killing the Shia community in Quetta and now in Karachi is a conspiracy to put hurdles in the completion of IPI Project by erecting wall of apathy and animosity between the Shia Iran and Sunni Pakistan.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Satyameva-Jayate/100003299017803 Satyameva Jayate

All know there is and will not be any shift in foreign policy. It is just a ploy to extract maximum aid….
Pakistan cannot survive without financial help, unless the Pakistanis really wish to “eat grass for thousand years”.

S Nasrullah

Truly skeptical views from a juandiced pen. It is a banal compaction into ridiculous brevity. We live in a modern world where there is acute realization that Peace and Progress are inevitably linked to all mankind, irrespective of their caste, color and creed. A nuclear country with God gifted fertile soil and brilliant citizenry cannot EVER face the fate of “eating grass for thousand years”. Lack of traditional doles could impinge temporarily on the prosperity and progress, but cannot write doomsday fate. When faced with challenges, this Nation has proven time and again that it could overcome every trial and tribulation. This nation has learnt that it is better to stand on its feet than live on its knees.

Farooq Hashmi

Mr.Nasarullah, All I know is that people like Satyameva Jayate and Sardarji ( Kirpal Singh Dhillon ) are made of the,meanest form of the mental fiber.No wonder that through their ill-will against Pakistan,they feed their scorpion-like nature.The more they gibber against Pakistan,the more their demonic nature is unfurled.Today they are gloating over Pakistan’s transient difficult times but probably,they are not aware that the Taliban has designs to subject Bharat to the same fate tomorrow.When the Taliban unluckily, begins its process of destabilizing Bharat_____ a country of one-billion-plus “jet-setters”_______ through its hit-and-run warfare tactic and terrorist activities, Mr.Jayate and Sardarji will be laughing on the wrong side of their mouths..

Farooq Hashmi

Thank you, thank you, Mr.Gandhi. I salute you.
Sudarshan

“CHOR CHOR MUSAERE BHAI” You scratch by back and I yours.

You may console each other in any way but the fact is We are self reliant and are not global beggars. Our Finance Ministry do not roam in IMF corridors for aid, no power has courage to send its drones in our territory, our Army do not work as mercenaries for other countries, our economy is growing no matter gradually, our educational institutes have standing in the world, more and more foreigners are visiting India for better medical facilities and above all India has respect and trust of the world.
Raj Chouhan

Same old venom. How does Hinduism and Islamism have come in this discussion? Some times your intellect gets buried under your arrogant, intolerant and frustrated thoughts. No doubt you may have very good bookish knowledge but I am sorry to say dear Hashmi you are miles of away from practical knowledge and the teachings of your Holy Q,ran which always teaches tolerance,peace and respect for other faith and religions. Real knowledge comes only after following the teaching and not just ranting the books. Here you are spitting on Hinduism in frustration and that also without any base and relevance to the context of this topic, you must keep in mind that there are also more than 80 Crore Hindus who are prefect in retaliation whenever are proved. I am sure, some of them even can write thesis against provokers.

You says ” Those who live in glass-houses should not throw stones at others.”. Does it not apply on Pakistan and Pakistanis who have passed a resolution on terrorist Afzal Guru and keeps on provoking India of and on. If you provoke others it is your right if others retaliate you get frustrated and jumps out of the box.

Hashmi ji, only this mentality and attitude is keeping peace thousands of miles away from we two countries. Some time it seems to me that you are also among those who are somehow or somewhere benefited in keep the fire burning . Rest is yours

REGARDS

S Nasrullah

@Raj Chouhan:
Does it lie in your mouth to claim: ” Same old venom. How does Hinduism and Islamism have come in this discussion? Some times your intellect gets buried under your arrogant, intolerant and frustrated thoughts”? Remember on the issue of Taliban, you had mercilessly advocated them to be ruthlessly exterminated. The vindictive attributes you have used for Mr Hashmi only reflects your deep rooted frustration The Muslims and the Hindus in my prosperous neighborhood live in complete amity. Whenever a celebrity from India or Pakistan visit our State, the private Receptions we organize, are always attended by our neighbors, and more often than not, the visiting Celebrities are struck by the cohesive spirit of co-existence and wish it to be extended within the Sub Continent.

You have grudgingly conceded the intellectual eminence of Mr Hashmi and this shows the streak of honesty still lingering in your personality.

S Nasrullah

The ultra Nationalist N. Mustaffa gets a resounding slap from an honest Indian “Gandhi” who wrote: “We should accept ……..(last line ending) … here is the sad fact”.
Sumit Awasthi

Lets welcome a Mullah in the covert of Gandhi. Welcome back to Hinduism after suffering a long in dark tunnel.
M.Saeed

Taliban are unhappy with Pakistan simply for the reason that, it barricades their route to their 21st Century Somnath!

Raj Chouhan

Need not worry Saeed Sahab, let them come this is as you said 21st century not 14th century when India was divided in 100s of states.As per today’s scenario it appears to be imminent because Pakistan and Pakistani are unable to face them and searching the excuses to bow before them.

M.Saeed

Raj Sb, with due deference to your credible knowledge about
the sub-continental history, you should not need any spoon-feeding. Invasions of India by foreigners started from Aryans and Rg Veda (VI. 27.5) gives its evidences that it was the Aryan
invaders who destroyed the cities of Hariyupiyah (Harappa) and in aid of Abhyavartin Cayamana, Indra destroyed the seed of Varasikha. At Hariyupiyah he smote the vanguard of the Vrcivans, and the rear fled frighted and terrified.

Dr. Arvind Kumar, stated in his paper presented in Rajasthan
History Congress: “ Hariyupiyah in the Rig Veda is quite similar to Harappa where Aryans have fought a battle with local inhabitants of the region. But it’s a controversial issue and not acceptable to a host of scholars. They point out that the provisional date of decline of Harappan is believed to be 1800 BC and Aryan advent in India is probably around 1500 BC. So, this theory is also not acceptable by the Scholars. Harappa was a city in the Indus civilization that flourished around 2600 to 1700 BCE in the western part of South Asia. Harappa was settled before what we call the ancient Indus civilization flourished, and it remains a living town today”.

As I have stated earlier, India had been most graciously
hospitable to all categories of invaders starting from the earliest known history of Aryan invasion, followed by Persians and going up to British in recent history. As you suggested, it is not 14th Century but 21st, I need not spoon-feed to say that Taliban, after entangling horns and subduing the two Super-Powers, might as well try its teeth on the emerging-touted third!

Farooq Hashmi

His (her?) master’s voice!
Raj Chouhan

If you are an Indian then you must be knowing that Shiv Sena is not at all BJP’s right wing party and both are absolutely different political parties with different political agenda and the spellings you use for “SHIV SENA” proves the views of Mr.Sumit Awasthi 100%correct and I have also doubt on your nationality. Even an student of 5th class in INDIA would know the spellings of Shiv Sena and its affiliation very well. BTW I would appreciate that you have given a fresh air to some of our friends no matter if they are given under wrong identity.

Gohar

Chouhan mian ..even if we.assume that he is a covert taken under Gandhi Id but what his says is 110% true. Isn’t it ? and what about the website he placed showing 100s of terrorist organizations within India ??

Raj Chouhan

And what you people are ? Children of ARABS???? Even your God father SA and other central Islamic countries do not consider you as original Muslims. Can you people marry with any SA girl? Can you people get the permanent citizenship of SA? Either you do not know about your background or pretends to be so naive or afraid to digest the truth that every Muslim of this Indian origin are converted Muslims from Hindus and that also from……… cast. This is a fact and reality whether you accept or remain in any delusion. If you are really so naive then just revisit the actual History and not the History which is taught to you in Pakistan you would be glad to know that your forefathers were followers of Hinduism and were from that cast which you people keep on ranting here. I am sure after knowing the truth you will not find even a drop of water to ….

Gohar

Chouhan baitay . ..again showing immaturity in your comments !! what Saudi Arabia does its her own business, giving citizenship, marriage are their worldly rules and these rules NOT at all basing on Islam and it has nothing to do with Islam. Bachay – even in Saudia Arabia there is NOT a complete sharia implemented that is why you will find their leaders are puppets of west so their oil business grow. Sharia/Islam are broad terms for that you need to become a muslim first so it clean out all the biased thinking manipulated by your filthy media which is full of discrimination against Pakistan and muslims..Bachay accept the fact about hinduism of having caste system even in this 21st century and also accept the fact that india is still not a progressed country as far as their public is concerned, most of the people in mumbai still sleeping in foot-paths. Alas ! poor people of india…

Raj Chouhan

“Example is, 1965 war – an enemy 10 times more powerful beaten by Pakistan army ” Here you have proved that you are a Mullah and a product of Madrrassa .

Gohar

So ? whats your point ?

Mirza Baig, India

That is why Pakistan has no Bijli any where.
M.Saeed

____reminds the Bullet Train promise of Shaikh Rasheed, the persistant chameleon.
Gohar

Hey Indian ! you should know that Pakistan is the ONLY country in the region which retaliate india as a tit for tat and it did in so many ways ..and the reason is b/c most of indian population is vegetarian ( a goat’s food) and almost 99% of Pakistanis eat the lion food i.e meat ..right ? so how come goat can beat the lion ? And if you still disagree and then go to the nearby wall and strike your head with the wall and nothing will come out from your head but some rotten vegetables..
NASAH (USA)

“Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA)
United Liberation Front of Barak Valley
Muslim United Liberation Front of Assam (MULFA)
Muslim Security Council of Assam (MSCA)
United Liberation Militia of Assam (ULMA)
Islamic Liberation Army of Assam (ILAA)
Muslim Volunteer Force (MVF)
Muslim Liberation Army (MLA)
Muslim Security Force (MSF)
Islamic Sevak Sangh (ISS)
Islamic United Reformation Protest of India (IURPI)
United Muslim Liberation Front of Assam (UMLFA)
Revolutionary Muslim Commandos (RMC)
Muslim Tiger Force (MTF)
People’s United Liberation Front (PULF)
Adam Sena (AS)
Harkat-ul-Mujahideen
Harkat-ul-Jehad
Lashkar-e-Omar (LeO)
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM)
Harkat-ul-Ansar (HuA, presently known as Harkat-ul Mujahideen)
Lashkar-e-Toiba LeT)
Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)
Harkat-ul Mujahideen (HuM, previously known as Harkat-ul-Ansar)
Al Badr
Jamait-ul-Mujahideen JuM)
Lashkar-e-Jabbar (LeJ)
Harkat-ul-Jehad-i-Islami
Al Barq
Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen
Al Jehad
Jammu & Kashir National Liberation Army
Muslim Janbaz Force
Kashmir Jehad Force
Al Jehad Force (combines Muslim Janbaz Force and Kashmir Jehad Force)
Al Umar Mujahideen
Mahaz-e-Azadi
Islami Jamaat-e-Tulba
Jammu & Kashmir Students Liberation Front
Ikhwan-ul-Mujahideen
Islamic Students League
Tehrik-e-Hurriat-e-Kashmir
Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Fiqar Jafaria
Al Mustafa Liberation Fighters
Tehrik-e-Jehad-e-Islami
Muslim Mujahideen
Al Mujahid Force
Tehrik-e-Jehad
Islami Inquilabi Mahaz
Mutahida Jehad Council (MJC) — A Pakistan based coordination body of terrorist outfits active in Jammu and Kashmir
& Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)– The dominant faction of this outfit declared a ceasefire in 1994 hich still holds and the outfit restricts itself to a political struggle.
All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) — an alliance engineered by Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) of 26 diverse political and socio-religious outfits amalgamated to provide a political face for the terrorists in the State.
Dukhtaran-e-Millat DeM) — an outfit run by women which uses community pressure to further the social norms dictated by Islamic fundamental groups.
Islamic National Front (INF)
Islamic Revolutionary Front (IRF)
United Islamic Liberation Army (UILA)
United Islamic Revolutionary Army (UIRA)”

Poor “Gandhi” ji has named all these Muslim terrorist organization including the Hurriyet — but only ONE Ranvir Sena — and STILL he is being accused as a Mullah wolf hiding under a Gandhi sheepskin — by my Hindu friends on this blog.

What a weird sense of proportion!!

I wish my Hindu friends will see — sometimes — the beam in their eyes as well — and discuss theirs on this blog also — not the Muslim ones only.
Sumit Awasthi

BTW can anybody tell how much Pakistan is investing from its own pocket on this project ????? ” De do kuch to de do chayhe allah ke naam par hi de do”.
Sumit Awasthi

Just pen down the Gayatri Mantra your all sins would be excused by the God. Then see the difference. Any how fake Gandhi ji ” Dair aaye daroost aaye”.
Anonymous

Facing from one side to the other, a dissappointing reality hits – many of us on both sides still live in flawed memories of the past and deluded dreams of the future without any acknowledgement of the present. Each side still petty point scoring …… What makes it painful is seeing these comments from some on both sides for whom one has respect – ego has no creed!
Kirpal Singh Dhillon

“Hashmi you are better than this”. No sir, he is worst then this. When he has no arguments he becomes mad and start behaving like beasts, I am surprised how till date CIA agents have not noticed him in US. He should have been caught and thrown back to the ravines of Tora Bora long ago. He is a real Mullah who swings like pendulum in Madrassas while ranting “ayas” without understanding even a word of them.
S Nasrullah

@Raj Chauhan:
You are a perfect personification of what people describe the many of your ilk: “Baghal mein churri aur mohn pe Ram Ram” in elegant English translation: ” tongue and action at variance”. The Taliban who have been funded and armed by the covert RAW conspiracy are religious fanatics. When the Drones no longer kill their families and when the Pak Military have ceased their operations against them, the people of the Tribal belt would take care of the insurgents and drive sanity in them.
You talk of comunal amity and look what Sanjay Dutt has been sentenced to jail for involvement in the Communal Riots of the Nineties in Bombay (Mumbai) that killed many Muslims and you have the blatant temerity to paint a roseate picture!!! Physician heal thyself.
Raj Chouhan

Chief Justice Peshawar High Court (PHC) Justice Dost Muhammad Khan remarked on 11.04.2013 about Hamoodur Rahman commission ” we lost half of the country but the commission’s report has not been made public yet”. Do you know why?? Because it would be very difficult for Pakistanis to accept the truth which would expose the main culprit. Therefore, please remain in delusion and keep blaming INDIA for your all of the failures from A to Z. For taking failures in right spirit and corrective measures needs big heart and courage which morons and cowards never have.
Raj Chouhan

Where I have ridiculed any religion or faith in my above comments Saeed ji?

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