Big shock! The gas pipeline deal on which Pakistan was getting applause, Iran took it to Paris court and sabotaged it. Major setback! Iran has derailed the gas pipeline deal—over which Pakistan was basking in praise—by taking the matter to a Paris court.

Pakistan, which is struggling with economic poverty and all-round crisis, has suffered another severe blow on the global stage. The ambitious Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project, which the government of Shehbaz Sharif and General Asim Munir was patting on the back in the country and the world by claiming to complete it, now seems to be completely in vain. Neighboring country Iran, fed up with Pakistan’s lax attitude and continuous delays in the name of American sanctions, has taken a big step. Iran has dragged this matter to the International Arbitration Court (Paris International Court), after which Pakistan is facing the threat of a fine of billions of dollars.

Know what is this gas pipeline dispute and Iran’s tough stance

This entire matter is related to a historic bilateral agreement signed in the year 2009. Under this deal, a gas pipeline was to be laid from Iran to India via Pakistan, but later it remained limited to only Iran and Pakistan. According to the agreement, Pakistan had to complete the construction of its part of the pipeline by the year 2014. Iran had long ago completed the work of 900 km long pipeline in its territory, but Pakistan kept postponing the construction of its part due to fear of US sanctions. Now Iran has made it clear that it will no longer tolerate the wastage of its national wealth and time.

Pakistan faces the threat of a huge fine of $18 billion

There is a stir in the strategic circles of Islamabad and Rawalpindi at this time. According to legal experts, if Iran wins this case in the International Court of Paris, then damages or fines of more than $ 18 billion (about Rs 1.5 lakh crore) can be imposed on Pakistan. It is completely impossible for Pakistan, already burdened with IMF loan and China’s repayment, to repay this amount. Pakistani media and experts say that this is the most shameful failure of the Munir-Sharif administration so far on the diplomatic and economic front, which has brought the country to the brink of bankruptcy.

Pakistani diplomacy failed from Beijing to Washington

Geopolitical analysts believe that Pakistan is currently stuck in a very serious dilemma. On one hand, he has to keep America happy, on the other hand, the resentment of neighboring Iran is costing him heavily. Pakistan had also sought informal help from allies like China and Saudi Arabia to come out of this crisis, but in view of the international legal complications, no one openly supported it. These changing developments in Asia and the Middle East may also impact the energy security of the entire South Asian region, due to which Pakistan’s domestic problems are going to increase further in the coming days.