US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that Washington has made it clear to Islamabad that the proposed Iran-Pakistan pipeline could raise serious concerns under the Iran Sanctions Act.
Addressing the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Secretary Clinton said that the US favoured the alternative Turkmenistan pipeline for Pakistan.
Clinton’s remarks were in response to Congressman Rep Lewis asking the US secretary of state why the budget request for the State Department included a $1 billion request to help Pakistan address its energy problems.
Secretary Clinton said the Turkmenistan pipeline was a better alternative, predictable and will avoid business with Iran. She added that embarking on the construction of a Pakistan-Iran pipeline is in violation of the Iran sanctions act. “We all know what the consequences of that law are,” she added. Secretary Clinton added that this move would be particularly damaging for Pakistan because the country’s economy is already ailing and would further undermine Pakistan’s economic status.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2012.
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why we pakistanis in general support iran pipeline .is it economically viable or simply we support it because america and west are gainst project. why we dont support TAPI (turkemanistan-afgha-pak.ind) project , because we have a valid arguement that there is no peace in afghjanistan . but we lack the reply that because of our monstrousity there is no peace in afghanistan......if the world is against iran then why should we be voluntiar..we can get better funding and support for tapi ..
@J Heart: Did you think that logic through at all? You basically listed off things that are the opposite in reality and are a good part of your current problems.
John the multiplier aid could not compensate the ever green benefits of the region. Why US is crazy for $ 1 billion aid? Pakistan is agriculture country and nuclear power as well and has sufficient resources to meet its people day to day food and energy needs. We have 160 Million population on 0.8M sqkm land area and it is the efficient resource mix. The thing is only exploited racism and sectarianism who did not exist when Pakistan came into being 64 years back. However, Pakistan should proceed after independent favorable CBA of the project. Allah will bless Pakistan.
@zehra: India not yet signed with this Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline project
Guys in PAK, relax. PAK will never build Iran gas pipe line for another decade. No insurance company will insure the pipeline, and no bank will finance it. SBP already said no it.
$250million loan from Iran to build the pipeline or $1 billion aid from US for building energy infrastructure?
Are you threatening me Beavis???
Decision time - the American's have made there's now it's your turn.
This is nothing new. US isn't renewing its opposition, it is merely reiterating it, at Israel's behest.
but it is a pakistan iran india gas pipe line right? what about the sanctions efecto n india? it is about time we stand up to those guys, go ahead with the iran pipeline and use the war on terror support card correctly.