On a recent visit to Tehran and some other cities of Iran, I witnessed an obvious contrast, a quantum jump from cohesive contest to suddenly a most friendly relationship between Pakistan and Iran. Pakistan being a close ally to America was careful in its diplomatic relations with countries on the west's negative list.
While Iran was part of the infamous axis of evil and Pakistan a strong ally of the US in its war against terror, it is not surprising that their relations were adversely impacted. With the ushering in of democracy after a long spell of authoritarian rule, the PPP government has shown its strength by charting an independent course in foreign policy within the region. Iran, being an immediate neighbour, was obviously the first among several options for Pakistan in this endeavour.
The fact that President Zardari made two visits to Iran within two months reveals the initiative that Pakistan has taken to put back on track the fraternal ties between the two brotherly Islamic countries. It appears that appointing an economist and leading banker, M.B. Abbasi, to the crucial post of ambassador to Tehran, is part of an elaborate plan, and not without purpose. Within a short span of time Abbasi has risen to the occasion and brought relations between the two neighbours to a point where they have once again begun to work together on regional issues.
Within less than six months, he arranged high-level ministerial meetings in Tehran that included separate visits of commerce minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Advisor on Finance Shaukat Tarin and interior minister, Rehman Malik besides two summits between Heads of State of the two countries. Simultaneously, with this political/diplomatic effort, the Pakistan mission in Tehran has become alive with cultural and trade promotion activities. It sponsored a Qawwali programme in Tehran, Isphahan and Shiraz. This is an added dimension to engage the Iranians and encouraging people-to-people contacts that are the real strength of relations between any two countries.
Historically Pakistan and Iran have enjoyed extremely close strategic relations. Be it the 1965 war, or the 1971, Iran had lent unreserved support to Pakistan. The 1979 Islamic revolution that toppled the Shah, a close ally of Pakistan, led to aloofness in relations between the two countries. The storming of the US embassy in Tehran and hostage taking of its diplomats spawned hostility in the West towards Iran's clergy that came into power.
Adverse developments also occurred in Pakistan, its elected Prime Minister, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, a fast friend of the Shah, was toppled in a military coup and hanged by his chosen army chief, general Zia-ul-Haq. Zia was, by religious orientation, more inclined towards Saudi Arabia, that had a tenuous relationship with Iran at that time and still has. This further accentuated a chasm in Pakistan-Iran relations.
In the post-Zia era, though PPP and PML(N) did form governments but did not or could not digress from the foreign policy conceived during the misrule of Zia-ul-Haq in which forsake the delicate balance in its relations with Saudi Arabia and Iran. It is for the first time after 30 years of Islamic revolution that Iran agreed to sell its crude oil to Pakistan on 90 days deferred payment. It is believed that import of 33000 barrels per day has already started from first of January 2009.
Iran's offer $315 million contribution to Pakistan for its war against terror is not insignificant either. The Trade Development Authority is scheduled to launch a single country exhibition with more than 100 installs in Tehran in July/August. This is again after a long time that Pakistan is participating in an exhibition in Iran at such a level. Foremost among all these is the Pak/Iran gas pipeline. Although this project was conceived under the Musharraf Government, it was hesitant to move forward, and Pakistan lost its first chance when the cost of laying the pipeline was $l billion that after a lapse of nine years has gone up to $7 billion.
These are efforts that need to be recognised and appreciated. The answer to most intractable problems and key to difficult tasks lies not within the box but outside. It usually requires a fresh look at things without undue reliance on past history and invariably it takes a rank outsider to do this. Abbasi is not a career diplomat and therefore not burdened with the past and not mired in diplomatic protocol.