In February this year, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi received Syed Mohammad Ali Hosseini, Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan. Qureshi praised the traditionally strong ties between the two nations and showed his desire to further strengthen collaboration in various dimensions, which would be mutually beneficial for both Tehran and Islamabad. As far as the historical, cultural, and religious affinities are concerned, both nations enjoy rich commonalities, including similar views on foreign occupation, which proved disastrous for them.
Iran was the first country to recognise Pakistan after its independence in August 1947. The basic factor of independence of both Pakistan and Iran was Islam. The current scenario portrays a bad picture of Islamic countries suffering from a cluster of problems under foreign agendas. In this connection, the role of Islamic nations has not been effective in addressing issues of the ummah.
Hosseini also expressed his grievances regarding the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation that it was not producing fruitful results for the Muslim ummah. He talked about the sufferings of the Muslim ummah and the malicious plan of the United States along with Israel to subdue them.
When the whole world is overwhelmed with the spread of the coronavirus, the United States has imposed more sanctions on Iran
Qureshi showed consent to visit Iran to meet with its leadership to talk about their concerns and disputes and their possible diplomatic solutions. During a meeting with Hosseini, Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Abdul Hafeez Shaikh said that the government aimed at expanding bilateral trade with Iran.
Giving more boost to the relations between the two nations, the Iranian ambassador proposed a new bloc for addressing regional issues and promoting cooperation among themselves. This bloc will include Russia, China, Turkey, Pakistan and Iran as these nations are capable of forming such an alliance that could effectively handle regional issues for the better future of the region.
Hosseini expressed his consent and help for solving the Afghan problem, which is a great hindrance to regional peace and stability, along with creating security issues for Pakistan. Iran aims at linking Pakistan’s Gwadar Port with the Chabahar Port of Iran via rail link, which ultimately will generate economic benefits for both the nations. He dubbed the recent “Deal of the Century” proposed by American President Trump for peace in the Middle East irrational and unjust. There are many doubts about the America-Israel alliance.
When the whole world is overwhelmed with the spread of the coronavirus, the United States, which considers itself the oldest democracy, protector of human rights, and the most developed nation on earth, has imposed more sanctions on Iran. UN Security Council members and signatories of the 2015 Nuclear Deal with Tehran, namely Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany, rejected Trump’s call for sanctions on Iran. President Trump’s action portrays that he is under stress in which he looks unable to understand repercussions and results of the policies and actions taken by him. At the same time, he is ignoring the traditions and values of the founding fathers of his nation, and he has no respect and feel no obligation for international rules and laws.
The Iranian Ambassador showed enthusiasm for increasing and strengthening the multilateral economic cooperation. In this regard, Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline is an important project and will become even more productive if it is linked with CPEC. That would not only bring huge economic benefits for both Tehran and Islamabad but also the region, through making it more stable and developed.
This new bloc could prove productive through solving the multi-faceted issues faced by the countries of this region. As America has remained unsuccessful in eliminating the problems of the region, therefore, it is the responsibility of the regional states to become serious in making such a bloc that takes the vast problems seriously and towards solutions for development, peace, stability, and progress of the underdeveloped nations of the region.
The Iranian president has also proposed cryptocurrency for Muslim nations for making payment transactions as an alternative to the US dollar, an idea also proposed by BRICS nations earlier. He further explained that the US always uses economic sanctions as the main tool of domineering hegemony and bullying of other nations.
As stated by the Iranian president, there is always room for diplomacy; therefore, “let’s return to justice, to peace, to law, commitment and promise and finally to the negotiating table,” which is the last and effective solution for any issue. Iran’s proposal of the five-nation bloc portrays a rational and real picture of solving the staggering and long-lasting problems of the region. The nations that are proposed by Iran in the bloc have no history of worsening or spoiling the stability of the region; it is the US that has been involved in generating multiple problems throughout the region via its policies and actions. These five nations have political, economic, social and financial stakes in the region. If the region is developed, peaceful and protected, they, collectively, can secure their interests along with giving benefits to other regional nations.
The writer is Ph.D. scholar in the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan