Pakistan-Iran Future Relations in the Perspective of Evolving Geostrategic and Geo-economic Situation in the Region

In the backdrop of Pakistan-Iran future relations, economic well-being and security cooperation are purely in the interest of both countries which will not only spur regional development but also create positive ripples on global geostrategic landscape.

These views were expressed by Former ambassador to Iran Javid Husain during a consultative dialogue held under the aegis of Institute of International Relations and Media Research (IIRMR) at local hotel..

“It is high time that both bordering countries foster synergic cooperation on political, defense and business avenues coping up economic challenges especially US’s fresh sanctions on Iran,” he said

He showed alarm on expected perilous consequence of US’s new economic curbs on Iran, saying these embargos will be source of threat to Pakistan-Iran economic endavours. “Both will have to find the way out to weather these testing times,” he said. Javid Husain applauded joint statement after PM Imran Khan’s Iran visit saying it will help redesign Pak-Iran relations keeping in view factors of regional peace and mutual tolerance.

Both reserve the right, he said, to promote their trade and business interests on Chabahar port and Gawadar port but not at the cost of their cordial ties allowing foreign powers to maneuver at all. He underlined the need to make the most of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).

IIRMR Chairman and foreign affairs expert Muhammad Mehdi said that technically Pakistan and Iran did not have such dispute that could be stumbling block for their exemplary ties. He said that China also aspired that both countries should nurture healthy relations.

After 1979 Iran revolution when Iran quit US bloc, he said, Pakistan had plunged into a tough situation to strike balance between Saudi and Iran. “Still Pakistan is pulling all stops to keep amity with both strategic friends unhurt,” he added.

He suggested that in order to dispel upcoming challenges of US dollars as outcome of economic sanctions on Iran that may be affecting Pakistan economy definitely, Pakistan and Iran needed to accelerate trade through border. This may help both to boost up their trade volume from $300 million to set target of $ 5 billion, he said.

PU Pakistan Study Center Assistant Prof Amjad Abass Magsi said that though Pakistan and Iran did not fester any conflict but their trade volume could not rise up to mark. He called upon Pak-Iran economic ties negotiating regional and global challenges. He pointed out new realignment on global chessboard that had been begetting new bloc featuring Pakistan, Iran, Russia and China, saying this new situation had potential to bring closer Pakistan and Iran. He hoped that both countries should capitalize the impending scenario.  Senior analyst Farooq Chohan asked for Pak-Iran ties as demand of time that would go in favour of both neighboring countries.

IIRMR President Yasir Habib Khan said that Pakistan and Iran relations had been taking center stage in regional and global trade scenario. Chabahar Port and Gwadar Port should never be considered as competitor but facilitator to help blossom mutual trade, he concluded.

Other participants spoke on the occasion were IIRMR vice president Muhammad Faisal, Javed Farooqi, Rauf Tahir, , Sarmad Iqbal, Khalid Qayyum, Taseer Mustafa, Muhammad Hassam, Imran Adnan, Rao Dilshad and others.