Tehran: In the region where world attention is currently centered and where US is desperately trying to conclude the two wars started during the days of Bush presidency,Iran occupies a dominant strategic position. With its borders touching Afghanistan and Pakistan on the east and Iraq on the west ,it is destined to play a significant role in stabilizing the position in both the areas.With asubstantial number of US troops to be soon withdrawn from Iraq for blostering war efforts in Afghanistan,which is again in the grip of resurgent Taliban and conditions in Pakistan worsening by the day,Iran’s positive influence becomes all the more imperative.Seid amir Mousavi Political analyst from Tehran said that “Bush tried hard to solve the middle east problem and to stabilize Afghanistan and Iraq .Iran’s role is important to solve Middle East the problems as we have the ports and forces to support the critical areas in Afghanistan and Iraq “.
When President Ahmadinejad exhorted Barack Obama on his election victory for “ restoring the legitimate rights of Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan to leave behind a positive legacy” and Obama decided to give a new direction to Iran policy,a new phase in US-Iran relations had almost already begun. Now Obama is considering to seriously engage Iran in “direct diplomacy” to build trust in areas that may require mutual understanding and mutual accommodation. Meanwhile Obama remarks “Now it is the Time for Iran to send some signals that it wants to act differently ,as well, and recognize that,even as it has some rights as a member of the international community,with those rights come responsibilities”
Practicing a functional democracy under a Shiite regime established on April 1,1979 with Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as supreme leader and succeeded after his death by Ayatollah Ali Khameinei on June 3 1989,country seeks to establish a society that ensures collective morality and social justice and opposes life of luxury and arrogance.The present world scenario ,where millions of jobs are being lost with the unemployed failing to meet the mortagage obligations of their houses,thanks to instruments that incorporated extreme risks while abandoning the ethical and self-regulatory systems of their businesses,however marks the Iranian concepts somewhat relevant even in the capitalistic society.
The country has made rapid advancements in Uranium enrichment technology and has recently launched a satellite in orbit that speaks amply of the progress made in the field of science and technology .Nuclear energy is thought necessary for undertaking huge development works including in the power sector though US and west suspect that uranium enrichment programme is aimed at acquiring nuclear weapons against the provisions of Non-Proliferation Regime.This also attracted action by the IAEA but more recently Obama contemplates direct diplomacy between the two countries to build trust .India however advocates a global non-discriminatory and verifiable elimination of all nuclear weapons.
But of still paramount importance are the bilateral or trilateral concerns/interests of Iran, Pakistan and India that not only properly answer the calls for national and regional aspirations of these countries but also have the potential of eliminating the terrorist activities afflicting the region and bringing unprecedented prosperity to all the three countries. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad emphasized “They (the west) said they want to defy terrorism ,Iranians have been fighting against terrorists for 30 years,and if they really want to defy the phenomenon they should cooperate with Iran’s nation that is the biggest victim of terrorism”.
Iran holds vast reserves of oil and gas energy while Pakistan and India direly need to import this energy for their huge development works .The Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline lingers implementation virtually being hostage to the security concerns of the pipeline being infested with militants and terrorists.Iran’s President Ahmadinejad even visited Pakistan and India in 2008 to stress the mutual economic benefits of the countries flowing from the project.The three countries could easily work ona action plan to rid this area of the terrorist activities.
India and Iran also share an added concern of eliminating the Taliban that now seek to destroy the very states of Afghanistan and Pakistan .Ameaningful joint plan by all the four countries can achieve the objective and additionally drive out poverty from this region.This only requires an enlightened vision and stern action at the level of all the involved governments.
Iran also offers vast and nearby market for India’s trade and industry.It also provides India access by land to Central Asian markets. Enhancement of Indo-Iranian cultural,trade and other relations have a great potential for all around benefit of the region and an added dimension in the context of the new phase of American-Iranian relationship after Obama’s taking over of US presidency.
Published: Thu, 12 Feb 2009
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