THE INDIA-IRAN-US LOVE TRIANGLE LOVE

STATUTORY WARNING: What follows is an amateurs attempt at writing stuff meant for serious reading.

As most people reading this might be aware the Indian Government is facing a rather delicate issue in the important area of Foriegn relations. Though the origin of the issue, the problem of energy security, lies in our own land it has taken on a very important international dimension. This is being seen by many as India's defining moment in its foriegn policy ,so far dictated by the soviets till early 90's and the US of A since then. The whole world has been watching how India has reacted to the whole issue. The problem as stated earlier is a very simple one: India needs a lot of energy nuclear or liquid to keep its economy running and as might happen in any transaction the primary factor is the cost and effectiveness. So now Iran enters the fray. Its abundant resources in natural gas and unexplored petroleum resources make it a viable option. So the whole plan of the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline makes tremendous sense. Not only does it reflect improved Indo-Pak relations but then it solves quite a few of India's energy problems. Iran having been India' friend also sees it as an opputunity to deal with an emerging superpower as well as be on higher ground in the bargaining table. Since both the sides have a lot to gain from such a deal it was only a matter of time before an amicable solution was reached as happened in early September. Now into the picture comes the International Policeman,the US of A.

As can be expected in any thing involving that nation,trouble crops up. India can not afford to dismiss usa lightly as only a little earlier in the year an agreement was reached with them also to solve our problem of energy security. With the USA adamant on referring the issue of Iran's nuclear assets to the UN and also expecting India's support on the issue India faced a new crisis.Does the Government try to show the world that our foriegn policy remains just ours only and not contain any foriegn influence or do we meekly support the USA. Well , india chooses the latter option. What is further worth noting is that nations smaller than us chose to abstain from voting while we go ahead and support USA's claims(nothing to discount given its well substantiated claims on Iraq).

this decision has lead to the souring of relations between India and Iran when everything seemed to lead up to our relations soaring. In fact one has to appreciate the way Iran has reacted to the whole issue by stressing that though it was upset by India's decision it will not call off the landmark Agreement. But then one can not help pondering whether India has actually come out of the whole things with thumbs up, because not only has it established its backing of the despised yet needed USA, but also due to its present International standing forced Iran not to part ways and lose one of its long time friends.

BUDDHA