The bilateral relationship and cooperation between India and Iran have been fairly good.
But despite the well crafted diplomacy, Iran’s equations vis-à-vis Pakistan could be an irritant for India in the long run.
How is Indo-Iran relationship shaping up?
Positives - For New Delhi, Iran is the gateway to connect with Central Asian countries.
India is investing in port and rail-road projects in the country.
Iran is also a key partner for cooperation in the energy sector.
India also shares centuries-old cultural ties with it.
Irritants - US is clearly on a confrontational path with Iran.
Iran is thus not comfortable with India because of its strategic partnership with the US.
Notably, Trump is currently undoing the Iranian nuclear deal and Iran has also disapproved the new Afghan policy of the US.
Similarly, the blossoming India-Israel bonhomie and a growing sympathy for Kashmiri separatists among Iranian politicians are concerns.
These are probably the reasons why the Fazad B gas-field that India discovered is yet to be allocated to India for exploitation.
How is Pak-Iran relationship shaping up?
Strategic situation - Iran continues to have strong ties with Pakistan despite Pakistan’s aggression against India which is a point of concern.
Such an outlook is partly due to Pakistan’s effort to sustain a cordial equation with Iran for strategic reasons as it shares a 900 km border with it.
Notably, the border runs along Pakistan’s Baluchistan province, which is a disturbed area that is seeing insurgencies and foreign meddling.
There have also been occasional border skirmishes with the Iranian military, which if builds up could open a third confrontational front for Pakistan (the others being Indian and Afghan borders).
Additionally, Pakistan sees a partner in Iran for its activities in Afghanistan and there is also immense mutual economic benefit in Iran’s Gas.
Recent Developments - Pakistan’s army chief Gen Bajwa paid a three-day visit to Tehran last year, which was the first such engagement in 20 years.
There was considerable enthusiasm as Gen Bajwa offered cooperation in missile technology and also discussed about a gas pipeline as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Notably, while BRI is shunned by India, Iran sees it as an opportunity and even desires to get Chabahar connected to it (which India is developing).
Additionally, Iran has even invited China to invest partly in Chabahar, which would smash any strategic significance that India associates with it as a counter to Gwadhar.
Iran has also thanked Pakistan for its help in countering Sunni extremists on its soil, which is in direct contract to India’s view on Pakistan.
How does the future look?
The strength of the Pak-Iran equation will hinge largely on how Pakistan’s approach to Saudi Arabia shapes up.
While Iran and Saudi are oppositely placed in the West Asian geo-political grid, Pakistan is closely aligned with Saudi in many international forums.
Pakistan is in fact standing by Saudi’s side in Yemeni and Syrian conflict, which pits it opposed to Iran, which is Saudi’s chief regional contender.
Notably, even the Riyadh based Islamic Military Alliance is headed by Pakistan’s ex-military chief Rahel Sheriff.
Pakistan has tried hard to not take sides in the Saudi-Iran dichotomy, but this approach might prove hard at all times.
Also, while India maintains cordial relationships with all powers, it is not clear if Pakistani fallout with any of them would benefit India in any way.
