US still concerned over Pak-Iran gas pipeline

US reiterates concerns over multi-billion-dollar pipeline plan projected to bring gas from Iran to Pakistan.


Kamran Yousaf October 26, 2010

ISLAMABAD: The US has reiterated concerns over the multi-billion-dollar pipeline plan projected to bring gas from Iran to Pakistan. Washington has also brushed aside the impression that it has changed its position on the matter.

“We support Pakistan government’s plans to meet its energy shortages, but that does not mean we have approved the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project,” said US embassy spokesman Alberto Rodriguez on Monday. “We have conveyed our concerns to the government of Pakistan,” he told The Express Tribune in response to media reports suggesting that the US is no longer opposing the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project. Rodriguez, however, did not elaborate.

Washington wants to penalise Iran over its alleged ambitions to seek atom bomb by pressing Pakistan not to enter into economic venture with Tehran. India, which was also part of the original plan, has already done so in exchange of securing a civilian nuclear deal with the US. The Obama Administration has so far spurned similar request from Pakistan, but has offered to assist it in obtaining Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and electricity from Tajikistan via Afghanistan if it abandoned the Iranian pipeline project. The project, costing nearly $8 billion, has already been signed between Pakistan and Iran. If everything goes well, Pakistan would start getting natural gas by 2014.

In June this year, President Barrack Obama signed into law the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act that could potentially create problem for Pakistan and its companies, which are in process of importing gas from Iran. Under the legislation, the US can bar foreign companies from the American financial system and markets if they continue to do business with Iranian entities, which are involved in the energy sector.

US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke was on record in saying that it would be “a disaster if an agreement was reached which then triggered something under the law.” However, Pakistan is trying to downplay the US concerns, saying the Obama Administration is well aware of the fact that its opposition to the project would not go down well with the public here.

“Pakistan is a sovereign country and we take decisions in our own national interests,” remarked Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit. The spokesman told The Express Tribune that the US sanctions on Iran are not applicable to its gas sector. “Therefore, Pakistan is of the view that the sanctions on Iran do not have an impact on the gas pipeline project,” he insisted.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26th, 2010.

COMMENTS (2)

Amjad | 13 years ago | Reply I wish to see alternates with Pakistan; not much progress seen on local exploration which is a cause of concern.
Ahmer Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.Now another hindrance is being created in the way of self-reliance in the energy sector and such these types of tactics for stopping the progressive activities are shown when you shall be dependent completely on USA and this is all as a consequences of getting military aid from USA as well.In fact USA doesn't want to stand Pakistan on its own feet and wants that Pakistan always should have to dependent on our aid programs and our leaders,after seeing such this type of hypocritical and harmful face of USA for in Pakistan's progress and developmental way,are still singing American songs.If our beggars leaders don't wake up after seeing this US officials' attitude then Pakistan can never get self-reliance in the energy sector and shall always be dependent on USA aid and the real testing time for our coward leaders has come and lets see what kind of strategy they adopt to fulfill Pakistan's energy sector requirements?Either they accept American objections and reject Pak-Iran gas pipeline project or continue this project for the betterment,welfare and self-reliance of Pakistan.And if our leaders can't understand that America is ours and our economy's greatest enemy in these the most needy circumstances then when they shall understand and realize about it?Now our leaders must understand after seeing the USA's hypocritical face that USA is against our self-reliance totally.
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