Pakistan and Iran

 

Pakistan and Iran

 

Relations between Iran and Pakistan have been consistently good since Pakistan’s Independence. Iran encouraged Pakistan to develop its interest in the international community. Hence, they both joined the Central Asia Treaty Organization [CENTO] in September and November 1955. 

On 21 July 1964 Turkey, Pakistan and Iran set up the Regional Co-operation for Development [RCD]. This encouraged to develop closer trade links and to help each other with industrial projects. Iran also tried to persuade other countries to send aid to Pakistan during the 1965 war against India but was unsuccessful. Despite this, Pakistan appreciated this effort. Iran did send help to the Pakistan government in order to put down an uprising in Balochistan in 1973.

In 1979, when there was an Islamic revolution in Iran and the Shah was overthrown, Pakistan was one of the first countries to officially recognize and support the new government, though this deteriorated/degenerated relation as the new government was suspicious of Pakistan because it had been an enthusiastic supporter of the Shah. In addition to this, the new Iranian government was fiercely anti-American whereas in 1979 Pakistan was receiving a large amount of aid from USA. Pakistan supported Iran militarily during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s.

 Economic Co-operation Organization [ECO] established in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan and Turkey for the purpose of promoting economic, technical and cultural co-operation among the member states. This provided a platform to discuss ways to improve development and promote trade and investment opportunities. Moreover, five memorandums of understanding were signed to boost trade. Both the countries underscored the importance of deep bilateral relations for increased trade and economic co-operation. The President of Iran, Muhammad Khatami, paid a three-day visit to Pakistan from 23-25 December 2002. This visit was meant to provide a new-beginning to Iran-Pakistan relations. It would also allow for high-level discussions on the future of the Iran-Pakistan-India Pipeline [IPI] project. In 1987, Iran and Pakistan signed an agreement on civil nuclear energy co-operation, with Zia-ul-Haq personally visiting Iran as part of its “Atoms for Peace” program. Iran had also set up an oil complex at the Gwadar Port, which has an oil refinery. According to the original plan, Tehran has laid an oil pipeline from its territory to Gwadar to transport crude oil for processing.

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