A leap ahead

Reiteration to go ahead with the ambitious gas pipeline project and cementing trade was a good omen

Pakistan and Iran have taken a leap step in graduating their relations. The three-day visit of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi could not have come at a more opportune moment. In the backdrop of ill-will that had developed after the border skirmishes early this year, it is relieving to see that both the countries walked the few extra miles to reset their ties, and sent down a resounding message that extra-territorial realpolitik will not come to hamper their congeniality. The reiteration to go ahead with the ambitious gas pipeline project and cementing new accords in trade and commerce was a good omen. The intention to have a ‘border of peace’ and to jump-start air, maritime and sea links will go a long way in defeating parochialism and marginalisation that had crept in owing to militancy on the porous frontiers.

The consensus to expeditiously finalise FTA and double down on annual Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC), Joint Business Trade Committee (JBTC) and to hold a Joint Economic Commission had set the ball rolling. The generousness of the guest leadership and the cordiality of the host reflected the common denominator of geo-economics, and they rightly underplayed the repulsive factors in geopolitics. Moreover, the decision to operationalise barter trade mechanisms would come as a shot in the arm in introducing enterprising activities on communities living across the 900-km plus divide. Thus, the urge to facilitate a regular exchange of economic and technical experts as well as greater interaction between their respective Chambers of Commerce was on the spot.

President Raisi meant some serious business as he pointed out that bilateral trade is quite unimpressive, and posted a staggering hallmark of $10 billion. That is no less than a bonanza, and the way to go as Pakistan becomes a melting pot of economic activity with the completion of the second phase of CPEC, and with the Gwadar port gets going. The fact that much stress was on furthering non-traditional security in the peoples’ domain is a win-win situation, as Tehran and Islamabad cajole together a format of compatibility.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th, 2024.

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