Page 10 - The Indian EYE 051724

OPINION MAY 17, 2024 | The Indian Eye 10

raeli actions in Gaza, calling on the Still President Raisi visited Ka-
two nations to unite at the Organiza- rachi and Lahore to enhance the
tion of Islamic Countries (OIC) and economic relationship as well as
other international forums along- strengthen people to people ties.
side fellow Islamic nations to push Though the visit might not bring forth
for a complete ceasefire. However, major economic breakthroughs, but
though Prime Minister Sharif want- it was an effort not only to reduce
ed similar support from Iran with tensions between the two nations as
regard to Kashmir, President Raisi well as portraying Iran as a depend-
chose not to mention anything with able and responsible neighbor of Pa-
regard to it. However, in the joint kistan.
statement, the issue of Kashmir was To conclude, the visit of Presi-
mentioned as an issue that should be dent Raisi to Pakistan did not tar-
resolved through “peaceful means get attain ground breaking levels of
based on the will of the people”. partnership. Rather, it was on the
background of meeting the newly
While meeting with his Pakistani elected government, normalizing the
situation in the Iran Pakistan bor-
counterpart, both President ders, finding avenues of enhancing

Raisi and President Zardari dis- trade. With continuing political and
economic instability in Pakistan and
cussed key regional and global lack of political will for any positive
developments, particularly the change, such bilateral visits will not
bring forth any positive change be-
situation in West Asia. Presi- General Asim Munir also called on President Raisi during the visit, emphasizing the need for tween Iran Pakistan relations.

dent Raisi emphasized further improved coordination along the Iran Pakistan shared borders to prevent terrorists from jeop- Dr. Dhrubajyoti Bhattacharjee is a
Research Fellow at the Indian Council
cementing economic, trade ardizing the relations between the two neighboring countries (Agency photo) of World Affairs, New Delhi. The views
and cultural relations between expressed are personal.
project as per set deadline. In Janu- private visit along with the Foreign
Iran and Pakistan. The two ary 2024, Tehran reportedly issued a Minister Ishaq Dar. While keeping This article first appeared on
countries emphasized the need final notice to Islamabad demand- the visit low profile, PML-N did not the website (www.icwa.in) of Indian
ing completion of its portion of the disclose Nawaz’s plans during the Council of World Affairs, New Delhi,
to work together to overcome pipeline by February-March 2024 or visit. on May 3, 2024
the challenges being faced by face a penalty under the Gas Sales
Purchase Agreement. Presently, the
the region. penalty stands around $US19 billion
which Pakistan will have to pay, if
General Asim Munir also called Iran takes up the issue in an interna-
on President Raisi during the visit, tional tribunal.
emphasizing the need for improved Keeping in mind the visit of
coordination along the Iran Pakistan President Raisi, Pakistan began
shared borders to prevent terror- work on the long-delayed pipeline
ists from jeopardizing the relations this month. Pakistani authorities
between the two neighboring coun- have begun initial work on an 80 kms
tries. President Raisi also stressed section of the Pakistan-Iran gas pipe-
that there is an urgency of fostering line. The Pakistan Inter-State Gas
cooperation between the two Armed Company (ISGS) has issued tenders
Forces, which would strengthen to consultants for the re-validation of
peace and stability for both nations a survey and Front-End Engineering
and the region. Design (FEED) for the project. Fol-
Pakistani leadership expected lowing the re-validation process, au-
that President Raisi will put the is- thorities will begin land acquisition
sue of the Iran Pakistan Gas Pipeline and awarding an Engineering, Pro-
on the table for discussion. Paki- curement and Construction (EPC)
stan after setting multiple deadlines contract, with the project is expected
from 2010 have failed to initiate the to be completed in 24 months. Even
project fearing US sanctions as well if the pipeline has been discussed
as due to internal political and eco- informally, fortunately for Pakistan,
nomic instability, originally slated the issue did not get reflected in any
for completion in December 2014, press release or in any statement is-
whereas Iran has completed its part sued by the Iranian leadership.
of the project. It can be noted here that while
As per an agreement signed President Raisi’s visit was ongoing,
by President Asif Ali Zardari in a Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz
previous tenure of Presidency, Pa- (PML-N) Chairman and former
kistan will pay a million dollars fine Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif left for
per month if it fails to complete the China on April 23, 2024 on a five-day

www.TheIndianEYE.com