How Does Pakistan View Iran’s Presidential Elections

Pakistan prefers a powerful central government in Iran. By Pir Mohammad Mollazehi.

Iran and Pakistan, two southwest Asian countries share a 900-kilometer border which has divided the Sunni Baluchs. Nevertheless, Baluch tribes have managed to maintaim contacts beyond the borders. Strong ties between Baluch tribes still exists though both Iranian and Pakistani states make efforts to put the borders under their full control.

For Pakistanis, the matter is whether the result of elections reinforces the central government in Iran, or they bring up an administration which calls for distribution of power among different regions in Iran. The latter is the idea promoted mostly by the reformists inside the Iranian scene of politics.

I believe that Pakistan is concerned with the Iranian central government handing a portion of its power to local administrations. That would create a threat in regions such as Baluchistan. The Pakistanis are currently concerned with their internal security with religious and ethnic groups engaged in an armed battle with the central government.

However, theoretically the Pakistan Peoples Party is seeking parliamentary democracy. Therefore, the victory of reformists would be a more favorable option for the ruling party of Pakistan. Meanwhile, if Pakistanis look from a security perspective to Iran’s presidential elections, they find out that a powerful central government will serve their national interests in a better way.

The other way around is also true. Iran prefers the rule of a central, powerful government in Islamabad even if the military -and not the civil figures- wield power. Iran believes that military rule which centralizes the power will better establish security in the region compared to Pakistani parties.

Powerful political circles in Pakistan have their own mindset when it comes to Iran’s presidential elections. According to their point of view, the more Iran moves towards parliamentary democracy, the more it helps the politicians in Pakistan to gain power vis-à-vis the military. From this angle, political parties in Pakistan prefer the victory of the reformist wing in Iran.

This commentary was provided before the Iranian presidential elections.