Iran-Pakistan: an association affected by Musharraf's future

After years of good relations, in the last decade the two countries have only entertained formal and cold institutional associations. This divergence is due to the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, the continued murder of Shiite Muslims in Pakistan, a political and economic vicinity between Iran and India disapproved of by the Islamabad's government and finally, General and Head of State Pervez Musharraf's regime which is considered to be too close in foreign policy to the USA, according to Iranian Ayatollah. These are the issues which have damaged, but never definitively shattered relations between Iran and Pakistan. Since 2001 the two nations have, however strengthened their ties, once again focusing on dialogue and collaboration. However, the institutional crisis currently underway in Pakistan is creating new scenarios undisputedly linked to the destiny of General Musharraf and future relations with the Shiite Islamic Republic inevitably depend on this.

1270 Words

Marco Di Donato

(19 November 2007)