ISLAMABAD: Former foreign secretary of Pakistan Najamuddin Sheikh, while talking to Radio Pakistan, has stated that no sanctions can be legally imposed on Pakistan under American or European Union laws if Pakistan procures gas from Iran by constructing its own gas pipeline with its own resources. He said that Turkey is already buying gas from Iran, and that no discriminatory treatment can be meted out to Pakistan while Turkey is allowed to do so. He said that the US could not subject Pakistan to any political pressuring or sanctions under its own laws as long as Pakistan did not make any direct investments in Iran. Shaikh said the worst that could happen if Pakistan went ahead with its plans would be a worsening of Pak-US relations, but he hoped that that eventuality may be averted due to present circumstances.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 3rd, 2012.
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wishful thinking-it is US and EU domestic law prohibiting business with any one doing business with Iran. becomes applicable in July. At the moment, not just turkey, but many others are buying Oil from Iran. Agreed, in politics nothing is final, but the chances are after July 1 it will not be feasible, both economically and politically for Pakistan to buy Iran Oil. Even Peoples Republic, the biggest critic of Iran sanctions, is looking for alternatives.
"US can't slap sanctions on Pakistan" Yes this true because this is coercion for USA because US-Pakistan relations are still on the edge by attacking Salala check post and blockade of NATO supply routes and thus sanctions on Pakistan shall enhance,create and make more and more complications and differences in US-Pakistan relations.This is why USA for its own personal interests shall not impose any sanctions on Pakistan.
Can we go away from under/over estimations as this may be an existential matter and the same kind of miscalculation changed the name of East Pakistan to Bangladesh. At least we should have learnt to avoid in our most gambling minds.