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Former Pakistani ambassador to Iran says future of Iran-Pakistan energy ties is very bright as the Islamic Republic with its surplus energy resources can help Pakistan overcome its energy woes in a most feasible manner, AVA Diplomatic reports.

In an exclusive interview with the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) Asif Ali Khan Durrani said Pakistan along with completing Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project should also purchase electricity from neighboring Iran.

“With Iran we have permanent relations and we have a proud history of having strong relationship, both the countries have always stood by each other,” he said.

He said Iran and Pakistan have been together not only on bilateral issues, but they have been together on regional and international issue and there has been close coordination between the two countries.

“So I can say that irrespective of governments in Pakistan and Iran, we have historical relationship, we have commonality in religion, culture and language, I can say with confidence that relationship has flourished to a satisfactory level and we can expand it further and in this regards sky is the limit,” the analyst said.

No hurdle in expansion of ties with Iran

He was of the view that there is no hurdle in expansion of ties with Iran and our foreign policy is not changed with the change of the government in Pakistan. “Especially in neighborhood when you have history of relationship with Iran, I don’t think there is going to be any change in our ties with Iran,” he said.

“Yes there will be a change for positive purposes which I can anticipate,” he said. Asif Durrani went on to say there is no reason that even in difficult circumstances both Iran and Pakistan would not stand by each other.

Iran-Pak cooperation in energy sector imperative for bilateral ties

The former diplomat added, ‘There have been pressures on Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project, even when we were negotiating and the agreement was not signed, there was the American pressure but despite that pressure we signed it in Chabahar and I myself went to Chabahar and I was present in the ceremony.’

“I am positive that it is taking a while but ultimately we will have Iranian gas here,” he said. The analyst said the IP is a very doable option, very practical option, and not only gas but purchasing electricity from Iran is a very feasible option for Pakistan.

He said Iran has surplus electricity and the country is also ready to give 3500 MW to Pakistan so this should be negotiated. “I am sure the new government would also look into that,” he said.

He added Iran and Pakistan should have greater trade and give preference to each other as trade is a big source of prosperity.

Good ground available for Iran-Pakistan currency swap agreement

Asif Durrani expressing his views said that Pakistani banks are not ready to do business with Iran right now and the reason being is they are scared. He added that Pakistani banks are scared because all of their business is in dollars so if they do business with Iran even through currency swap they might land into difficulty.

“This is unfortunate; I think there is a good ground for both the countries to have a firm currency swap agreement, I am an ardent supporter of currency swap, now this is being done between Pakistan and China and if it can work there it can work with Iran also,” he said.

He said that currency swap agreement is possible between Iran and Pakistan; there is a currency swap between Iran and Russia, Iran and China so why not with Pakistan.

The former ambassador said that lack of banking channel is the main hurdle in economic ties of Iran and Pakistan and if they enter into currency swap, the trade between the two countries can be increased.

“The trade between Iran and China is close to $30 billion so Pakistan should also enter into a currency agreement with Iran to boost trade,” he noted.

US sanctions against Iran, unfair

The former ambassador added that sanctions against Iran have never worked whether imposed in 1996 or renewal of these sanctions by Trump administration after withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

“I have very clearly said that American sanctions are unjust and American administration is setting a very dangerous precedent by withdrawing from an international agreement which has the endorsement of UN Security Council so tomorrow countries would be skeptical to enter into any agreement under the international umbrella,” viewed the expert.

He added that the countries would be skeptical about the role of the permanent Security Council members so my view is that these sanctions would only increase the difficulties of the common people.

Asif Durrani said Americans claim that they are with the people of Iran, I think that is incorrect, I don’t think they are with the people of Iran; had they been, they would have stayed in the JCPOA and raise other issues to which they are objecting now.

No military solution to Afghanistan problem

The analyst said that it is a very positive development that Russia, Iran, China and Pakistan are together trying to restore peace in Afghanistan.

He added that Iran and Pakistan have already dialogue process on Afghanistan and now they have just participated in Moscow process and there are reports that Iran, Russia, China and Pakistan are also in talks with Taliban which shows that all these countries want a peaceful solution to the Afghan problem.

He said that Americans should realize that there is no military solution to Afghanistan problem and after 17 years they have lost $ 900 billion and they are losing every year almost $45 billion but the end result is that Taliban are still in the control of 50 percent of the country and other 20-25 percent is contested area.

“So in such a situation Americans’ stay in Afghanistan is only contributing to the misery of the Afghan people, America is not factor of stability in Afghanistan,” he added.

Iranian people are friendly, intelligent

Asif Durrani recalling memories during his stay in Iran as a Pakistani diplomat said Iranian people are friendly and intelligent. He said every second Iranian is an artist and they are very well educated people adding that it has been a pleasure to be in Iran and if given opportunity he will visit again.

The expert stated Iran and Pakistan have been making common positions on many international forums so there is no doubt that cooperation between the two countries has been exemplary and Pakistan after suffering 70,000 casualties in the war against terror has become much wiser and experienced and we are running many courses on this subject which is participated by many countries including Iran.

Crisis in Yemen should be resolved

The diplomat said that crisis in Yemen should be resolved at the earliest; it is a wasteful war and has become bone of contention between Iran and Saudi Arabia which is unfortunate.

“Saudis are more concerned because Yemen is their immediate neighbor so Pakistan’s policy of neutrality on Yemen was meant to bring Iran and Saudi Arabia closer and to facilitate them to resolve their differences,” he said.

Asif Durrani said that turmoil is only in the Muslim world and nowhere else so we have to look at it whether we are contributing to this turmoil.

“We have to take effective measures to address these problems even if we have to go at extra mile and that is why Pakistan by displaying its neutral stance on Yemen war is in a position to mediate on the issue and Iran had already welcomed Pakistan’s mediatory role when former Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief visited Iran and Saudi Arabia in early 2016,” he said.