Adjusting timeline: No need for new deal on Iran gas pipeline, says FO
Delay due to funding issues, not because of US threats of sanctions, says foreign office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam.
No need for new deal on Iran gas pipeline, said Foreign Office. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan on Thursday said it is opposed to signing a new agreement with Iran on the multibillion dollar gas pipeline in view of the financial snags that the project has run into.
“Already, we have an agreement. Why would we sign a new agreement? There may be an adjustment of the timeline but that does not require a new agreement,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told reporters here at the weekly news briefing.
She insisted that the progress on the pipeline had been slow because of the funding issues and it had nothing to do with the US threats of sanctions on the project.
“The gas pipeline is a bilateral issue between Pakistan and Iran and it is not going to be specifically on the agenda of strategic dialogue (between Pakistan and US),” she added.
Project deadline
The multibillion dollar project was formally signed in the last days of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government in 2013. Under the agreement, the project is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.
However, given the likely US sanctions and slow progress to lay the pipeline on the Pakistani side of the border, the project is unlikely to meet the deadline.
The recent nuclear deal between Iran and the western countries had renewed hopes of timely completion of the project.
However, Washington made it clear that it still has serious reservations over the project.
Commenting on reports that agreement on putting a freeze on the Iranian uranium enrichment programme would come into force on January 20, the spokeswoman said Pakistan’s position has always been that there is no military solution to the nuclear issue.
“We have all along emphasised to all the interlocutors that a settlement of this issue should be found through dialogue and this settlement has vindicated Pakistan’s position. We hope that it is implemented in letter and spirit,” Tasnim said.
Pakistan wants peace at LoC
The spokeswoman said Pakistan wanted to maintain peace along the Line of Control (LoC), a de facto border that divides Kashmir.
She termed the recent statement attributed to the Indian army chief about taking the revenge of LoC killings as provocative.
“It is provocative and unfortunate and as the ISPR director general has already pointed out, statements like these and claims of this sort tend to deteriorate the situation,” she added.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 17th, 2014.
Pakistan on Thursday said it is opposed to signing a new agreement with Iran on the multibillion dollar gas pipeline in view of the financial snags that the project has run into.
“Already, we have an agreement. Why would we sign a new agreement? There may be an adjustment of the timeline but that does not require a new agreement,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told reporters here at the weekly news briefing.
She insisted that the progress on the pipeline had been slow because of the funding issues and it had nothing to do with the US threats of sanctions on the project.
“The gas pipeline is a bilateral issue between Pakistan and Iran and it is not going to be specifically on the agenda of strategic dialogue (between Pakistan and US),” she added.
Project deadline
The multibillion dollar project was formally signed in the last days of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government in 2013. Under the agreement, the project is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.
However, given the likely US sanctions and slow progress to lay the pipeline on the Pakistani side of the border, the project is unlikely to meet the deadline.
The recent nuclear deal between Iran and the western countries had renewed hopes of timely completion of the project.
However, Washington made it clear that it still has serious reservations over the project.
Commenting on reports that agreement on putting a freeze on the Iranian uranium enrichment programme would come into force on January 20, the spokeswoman said Pakistan’s position has always been that there is no military solution to the nuclear issue.
“We have all along emphasised to all the interlocutors that a settlement of this issue should be found through dialogue and this settlement has vindicated Pakistan’s position. We hope that it is implemented in letter and spirit,” Tasnim said.
Pakistan wants peace at LoC
The spokeswoman said Pakistan wanted to maintain peace along the Line of Control (LoC), a de facto border that divides Kashmir.
She termed the recent statement attributed to the Indian army chief about taking the revenge of LoC killings as provocative.
“It is provocative and unfortunate and as the ISPR director general has already pointed out, statements like these and claims of this sort tend to deteriorate the situation,” she added.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 17th, 2014.