"We believe there are better ways and more secure ways, and more cost-efficient ways for Pakistan to get its power,” says Nuland. ILLUSTRATION: JAMAL KHURSHID
WASHINGTON: The United States said that there were “better and more cost-effective” ways for Pakistan to address its energy needs than projects like the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline deal.
“We understand that Pakistan has significant energy needs and requirements, but there are other long-term solutions to Pakistan’s energy needs that we believe will have better potential for success and will better meet Pakistan’s needs than spending scarce resources on projects like this,” US State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters at the daily press briefing on Thursday.
She was responding to a question about press reports that Pakistan will face US sanctions if it went ahead with the IP pipeline project. “Let me just say broadly that we will continue our dialogue with Pakistan with regard to Iran,” Nuland said.
The United States, she added, was involved in many ways to help Pakistan address its energy needs, including ones that will add some 900 megawatts (MW) of power to the grid by 2013, enough power to supply an estimated two million households.
When asked if the proposed gas pipeline with Pakistan comes under the sanctionable items, Nuland said as these are being developed, she is not in a position to make that assessment. “But we believe there are better ways and more secure ways, and more cost-efficient ways for Pakistan to get its power,” she added.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2013.
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"Atlast black cat is out from the bag again", a few days back was wondering about how could people kill eachother on religio-sectarian grounds..?? incase of if ever TTp is existing in Pakistan with her real media-mentioned motifs, why would she be killing Bashir Bilour who announced bounty on ruthless blasphemy creator's head ..?? And as this sectarian violence particularly started against Hazara community and in general against Shia sect, the question roamed, who is doing this n what suppose to b the motives are...?? So, American black diplomacy failed, nor people neither Iran-Pakistan clashed or even constrained their bilateral relation on such manifested fake grounds. A big thumbs-up for USA again. Perhaps this is understood, policies of USA on Pakistan and Iran. as if hoth countries didnt deviayed, conditions would gross to b more worse than just slapping economical sanctions, but thing is even If Pakistan isn't adopting such energy supporting ties with Iran, what has been performed good by USA to Pakistan sofar, in respect of supporting its economical devastations for fighting an alien imposed war by a crazy general with influence of USA...??
They understand only never implement. has been they so thoughtful it would have been outcome in 5 yrs.
@Bangladeshi: I am glad to hear this news. Long live Bangladesh
@gp65: As usual Indians are missing the plot. Dude, what is India's credit rating? 'Junk', the same as Somalia. Developing countries aren't expected to have AAA ratings. As for how to pay for it, Einstein its called barter trade! The whole idea of IP is that Pakistan can pay with goods instead of cash or dollars. How stupid can you be? You don't even know the project properly. IP project has been in the development since 1950 and its very well planned. Projects like TAPI are unfeasible because no one knows what Afghanistan will be in 10 years.
Now Bangladesh have more money than pakistan as a whole.Militarily also we are catching up with pakistan
Editor,
Please fix the Map of Pakistan. You have Cut Off Kashmir ( Northern Areas of Pakistan) from the map of Pakistan. Even International Maps show Northern Areas of Pakistan as part of Pakistan, only in INDIA they show Northern areas of Pakistan as Part of India... Whoever created this image, should be asked some serious questions.
@gp65
Spot on. The elephant in the room that few Pakistani's want to talk about is the fact that there is an abundance of energy available World Wide - Pakistan lacks the money and credit worthiness to buy this energy. Pakistan indicates it's going to raise money to build the pipeline and buy the gas through increased taxes and fuel surge-charges - but that ignores the fact that many and perhaps most Pakistani's don't pay their taxes nor utility bills.
Iran is no friend, they are trying to sell us this gas at more than double the rate of international gas. Thats the only delay. Our Govt is pro iran and not loyal to us so they want to go ahead but beuroocracy and technical experts are resisting and want iran to cut down prices. Even if we get gas at this rate it will be of no use and will not be acceptable at very high price.
FOR GOD'S SAKE LOOK AT COAL BED METHANE gas (CBM) in Thar. Very conservative estimates of recovery are 5-6 TCF, right in our back yard. Our govt has to get their act together. Hope the new elected govt gets us out of this artificially created energy mess.
“We understand that Pakistan has significant energy needs and requirements, but there are other long-term solutions to Pakistan’s energy needs that we believe will have better potential for success and will better meet Pakistan’s needs than spending scarce resources on projects like this,” US State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters at the daily press briefing on Thursday." "The United States, she added, was involved in many ways to help Pakistan address its energy needs, including ones that will add some 900 megawatts (MW) of power to the grid by 2013, enough power to supply an estimated two million households." In fact US never wants to see Pakistan as an advanced,sovereign and self-reliant country and never wants to allow Pakistan to stand on its own feet to get real self-reliance and sovereignty and always wants that Pakistan forever must depend on US' aid.This is why USA is raising objections on Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline's project and threatening for expected economic sanctions in the future.This is not first time that USA is interfering in Pakistan's developing projects with Iran and China but in the past has been interfering in Pakistan-Iran developmental projects and this US' interference's habit has been old bad habit and always old habit goes hard.....
@Naumann Malik: Corruption is not a problem in the US. You need to stop projecting how Pakistan is onto other countries. You're quite unique and not in a good way.
@Ahmed: "IP is a long term project. Pakistan has a energy deficit of 5,000MW. With IP we can narrow that down to 900MW. It will provide Pakistan with over 4,000MW. How is that not long term? Yanks needs to shut-up and mind its own business."
Presence of this pipeline will simply allow you to get gas if you pay for it. But even today you have had huge gas shortages in Pakistan. Is it because there is a shortage of gas in the world? No. there is a shortage of money to pay for gas. Unless and until the circular debt issue is resolved the same issue will also impact the gas flowing though IP pipeline i.e. mno money to pay for it. Remember, this gas is not going to come at the low price that you have been getting Sui gas for.
I hope Pakistan doesn't get bullied by the United States on this issue. We must have good economic, political and social relations with our neighboring countries whether they're Iran or India!
@Naumann Malik: Keep your aid to yourself
No one is forcing Pakistan to accept AID from Western countries. Pakistan should try to get Zakat from Muslim countries.
Pakistan is playing on both sides of "war on terrorism" just to get FREE money from West.
IP is a long term project. Pakistan has a energy deficit of 5,000MW. With IP we can narrow that down to 900MW. It will provide Pakistan with over 4,000MW. How is that not long term? Yanks needs to shut-up and mind its own business.
Yea sure there are more projects - like Kerry lugar bill, more IMF loans, more aid, etc...no thank you. Keep your aid to yourself, and your corrupt politicians in your own house.