TALKS are going on between Iran and India for the construction of a gas pipeline that would have Arabian sea as its course rather than Pakistan. It would cost $4 billion and would be 1,110km long. The project should jolt Islamabad out of its meek obeisance to Washingtons wishes, and prompt it to actively engage Tehran to finalise the stalled gas pipeline project. It is strange that New Delhi, which is a strategic partner of the US, should be able to disregard its ban and collaborate with Iran in such a venture, that would be highly lucrative for Iran. We should be making decisions on our own, not bothering about whether the US would be offended. Relations between states are supposed to be based on national interests, and we should learn a lesson from New Delhi that has shown that its interest have precedence over demands of the US. It is a pity that Islamabad in the manner of being more loyal than the king has been shy of cooperating with Iran merely because the US does not approves of it. It bears pointing out that the supply of gas from Iran, which would have been a blessing for our energy conundrum, has been subjected to inordinate delays on the behest of kowtowing leaders, from the previous as well as present governments, who thought that Irans standoff with the US was reason enough to stay away from it. It is high time Islamabad realised the economic benefits of getting gas supply from Iran. We will not only have our present energy crunch sorted out, but also the mounting needs of our industry, agriculture and other multifarious uses will have been taken care of. We should do plain speaking with the US about the project and disregard its pressure.