Pak-Iran relations: ‘US cannot slap sanctions on Pakistan’
Turkey is already buying gas from Iran, and that no discriminatory treatment can be meted out to Pakistan
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.
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.