Pakistan Should Avoid Becoming A Proxy In Destruction of Indo-Iran – Russia North South Corridor and Chabahar Port: Lessons From Zia’s Mistake in Afghanistan.
Rajiv Upadhyay 
For many years, Pakistanis like Lal Topi , took false pride in having been a part of defeating and disintegration of a super power Soviet Union till chickens came home to roost and the old modern and prosperous Pakistan of General Ayub era vanished under 
the flogging /amputation regime of Zia ul Haq and Swat valley / Lal masjid attacks . It became a pariah state as in every major terror attack globally, a Pakistan link was found . Today more people die in terrorist attacks in Pakistan than on war front . 
Afghanistan is no more a friend of Pakistan . Even Zia ul Haq was killed when he became disobedient . Now a die hard friendly Islamic Iran has also turned an enemy of Pakistan.
History is about to repeat itself as Iran has attacked terrorists centres inside Pakistan . Although Pakistan has nominally retaliated by attacking Iran with missiles but it is fought with as much danger as Afghan war if Pakistan does not reform.
Iran is likely to become a very major transit trade hub with north south corridor between India and Russia in which many Central Asian countries are likely to join including Armenia and Azerbaijan . Chabahar port will be crucial as with out India , no east west or North South route can become financially viable . Pakistan’s Gwadar port will only be used by China in emergency and the whole investment has gone waste , leaving Pakistan with huge debt. The ruling World powers will like to destroy both Gwadar and Chahbahar ports using Pakistan as terrorist proxy again . It may temporarily suit army and ‘ madarsa chhaaps tanzims ‘ in the old mullah- maulvi alliance but it will ultimately end in balkanisation of Pakistan. At best another army chief will buy an island and settle in a foreign country while blaming and sending another prime minister to jail on corruption charges.
Today Pakistan is in a much worse economic condition then in Zia era. While Zia could dictate his price for supporting USA , the present regimes will have to dance to foreign tunes for just a billion dollars and recycling of old debts. Pakistan needs fifty billion dollars and doubling of exports. No one can give it to Pakistan.
Pakistan should not fight any ones’ proxy war again even with a facade of non state actors . Russia , India , China are all regionally big powers and destroying north – south corridor will not go unpunished even if temporarily Pakistan may avoid defaulter status for a few more years. Its economy cannot withstand the cost of any war and like Ukraine under Zelensky , Pakistan will be destroyed completely by some clown in power being declared as ‘ Man of the Year’ by Time magazine or given Nobel prize for Peace !
Iran is a very pragmatic country and its attack indicates that it wants to nip in bud any terrorist challenge in Chabahar .
As in Pulwama , Pakistan is guilty and must not step up this confrontation and stop supporting terrorists operating from its land.
