Pakistan: Strong attack of terrorism on Pakistan’s intention to import energy from Iran
The Shehbaz Sharif government’s intention to import energy from Iran has been hit hard by a recent terrorist attack on Pakistan’s border with Iran. In an attempt to overcome the shortage of foreign exchange, the Sharif government plans to import energy from Iran at a cheaper rate. According to analysts, the terrorist attack has created new obstacles in this path.
On May 21, Iran’s border guards had an encounter with the terrorist group Sarawan in an Iranian city bordering Pakistan. Five Iranian border guards were killed in them. Just before this, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif and President of Iran Ibrahim Raisi had met in a border village. There he went to inaugurate a 100 MW power transmission line. Through this transmission line, electricity made in Iran is to be delivered to Pakistan’s Gwadar port. The Gwadar project has been built under China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Iran’s foreign minister condemned the terrorist attack, calling it an “attempt to harm cooperation and friendly relations between Iran and Pakistan”. Terrorist group Jaish-ul-Adal claimed responsibility for the attack. The group said it carried out the attack to avenge the mistreatment of Sunni Muslims in Shia-majority Iran.
Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran Program at the Washington-based think tank Middle East Institute, said- ‘This attack is a big blow to a possible energy deal between Iran and Pakistan. There can be no economic cooperation in an environment of insecurity.
Terrorist incidents have increased rapidly in Pakistan recently. A few days before the incident on the Iran border, terrorists from another group had stormed a natural gas and oil facility in northwest Pakistan. Four policemen and two private guards were killed in that attack. This place is close to the Afghan border.
According to experts, the attack on Iran border is a big blow for Pakistan. Pakistan is currently in economic trouble. Meanwhile, a possible energy deal with Iran is his great hope. Przemysław Lisinski, an Iran expert at the Warsaw-based War Studies Academy in Poland, told NikkeiAsia.com that energy cooperation between Pakistan and Iran is not possible without stopping such incidents.
A Pakistan government official told the same website on condition of anonymity that the Pakistan government wants to import energy from Iran because in that case it would be able to pay in its own currency. While the US sanctions on Iran are a major obstacle in this matter. Pakistan will be able to import energy from Iran on a large scale only if it persuades the US to make concessions in this matter.
According to the reports in the Pakistani media, the Government of Pakistan has sent its request to the US in this regard. But Lesinski said- ‘Since America’s talks with Iran for the nuclear deal have stalled, it is very difficult for Pakistan to get such a concession.’ Meanwhile, the terrorist attack has increased the difficulties of Pakistan.
