Monday May 15, 06:26 PM
US asks Pakistan to abandon gas project with Iran
By DPA
Islamabad, May 15 (DPA) The US has asked Pakistan to abandon the seven billion dollar gas pipeline planned to Pakistan and India ahead of next week’s visit by a high-level Iranian delegation, a newspaper reported Monday.
‘The US has asked Pakistan to distance itself from the pipeline, but the leadership is adamant in its refusal to the constant US demands,’ The Nation quoted a senior government official as saying.
Iran and Pakistan have said the project would forge ahead despite US reservations. Pakistan said the project is vital to meet the country’s growing energy needs.
The US appeal came before Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was slated to arrive May 24 in Islamabad for consultations with Pakistani leaders on key issues including the international standoff over Tehran’s nuclear programme and the pipeline.
A day later, Iranian First Vice President Parviz Dawoudi is also set to arrive.
Meanwhile, the joint working group of Iran, Pakistan and India was also scheduled to meet in the Pakistani capital May 22 to 24 for technical discussions on the proposed 2,670 km pipeline from Iran’s southern Pars field.
Those discussions are to be followed by ministerial-level talks next month in Tehran.
Pakistani officials said the project should take three to four years to complete after the three countries strike a final deal
Re: US asks Pakistan to abandon gas project with Iran
Pakistan can go ahead with the deal, though make it sure that you don’t shake the apple cart and lose more than you gain…
You are still a lot dependent on US…for trade and defense…:halo:
Re: US asks Pakistan to abandon gas project with Iran
Anti Americanism was proved by Gartner report longbefore the deal…
Anyway, all I am saying do your debit / credit check before jumping the gun..
Mian Mushraff, should also realize how long can he survive w/o US..
So there are lots of things to consider, I don’t think Pakistan can so easily negate US.. Its matter of international politics not foolhardy bravado…
Re: US asks Pakistan to abandon gas project with Iran
i dont understand why people keep on comparing india and pakistan and abt an imbalance of power. It is like new zealand telling we want everything that australia has. It is just not possible. India's size in area is 4 times bigger then pakistan, population is around 6.5 times bigger, economy is 8 times and the defence spending is 4 times bigger.
I personally think it is highly unlikely that pakistan gets the same nuclear deal from usa. India has now a considerable global clout and usa need india to counter china's rapid growth. I still think it will be economically beneficial for india if we join the iran- pakistan pipeline, dont know if it is strategically a good move or not.
Re: US asks Pakistan to abandon gas project with Iran
This is not a good comparison. Sure Pakistanis should use this ploy to pressure Americans. However Nukie comparison is wrong.
Both Bharat and Pakistan have unique place in the Western policies.
When Pakistan got NATO access through Major Non-NATO Ally, Bharatis did jump up and down.
However this nukie deal has opened up Bharati programs to American inspection. And Pakistan should avoid that kind of deal at least for the moment.
In the big power game of cat and mouse, Pakistan need to be very careful. Making statements like give gawader to China are going to hurt us in the long run.
Gawadar should be Pakistani Naval Base that guarantees security to all including Chinese or Americans, or Dubains.
We ought to grow up as a nation and think Pakistan as a power and not a basket case dirt bag like Iran and Afghanistan.
Re: US asks Pakistan to abandon gas project with Iran
i hope they bury thesepipes 1000ft underground. knowing they have to pass through balochistan, we can look forward to them beling blown up by &$(^% (#& on a weekly basis
Re: US asks Pakistan to abandon gas project with Iran
USA gave India this nice big juicy Nuclear power deal.
So if USA doesn't give us something similar, then we need our own energy supplies.
Who the hell is gonna give us gas, oil, petroleum, etc...
USA has to know the consequences of not treating Pakistan fairly.
Pakistan should and must go ahead with this Pipeline deal with Iran.
Without India, this deal is dead. Pakistan and Iran do not have the funds, the credit lines, nor do they do not have the engineering expertise to construct this. There is no international consortium that will back or guarantee this either. China has long washed its hands of this deal too.
Re: US asks Pakistan to abandon gas project with Iran
No one including Pakistan, Bharat, or Iran have money to put this pap-line together. They all need support / green signal / OK from international banks. Even if they do get permission (in the face of US opposition so I doubt about the permission), they need Big Oil to come and put this stuff together. Pap-lines are no garden hoses from the backyard that you can connect one to the tap (tooti) and turn the gas on.
Given Iranian Mullahtic trends, no Western Oil company will be involved in this project. So we are left with Gazprom and Putin's mercy.
See there are too many steps needed to have a successful installation of the pap-line. Otherwise the whole idea will remain just than! A lot of hot gas.
Re: US asks Pakistan to abandon gas project with Iran
I can see why US wants Pakistan to distance itself from the Iran deal. What I am not sure I read in the news story is the compensation/alternatives that US is offering to Pakistan. Naturally Pakistan is going into the Iran pipeline deal for clear incentives - money and energy. Pakistan is not into it for Islamic bhai chaara, anyway.
Is US planning to replace both of these with something of equal or more value? If it is, then bring it on the table, and Pakistan can chose the deal that is more beneficial. Ofcourse, its not as simple as that, with international politics and arm-twisting involved, but to just out and say "don't do the deal, because we say so" doesn't work in the modern day relationship between nations.
Re: US asks Pakistan to abandon gas project with Iran
Good approach. However Pakistan should not be setting up "deals" using Irnaian (the most loathsome place for US admn) threat. There are better ways.
US is not saying "because we say so". Iran is a threat for Pakistan too. Have you already forgotten Iman Khomeni's funding for the terrorism in Pakistan. How can you ignore the troubles in Quetta immediately after Iranian revolution?.
Even now, Mullathtic bumbs riding on Shihabi sitara can't reach US, but they can surely reach Pakistan. Especially the Pak Air Force bases "suspected" of being used by US are already in danger.
Pakistan needs to go through any deal with Iran very carefully.
Now one of the positive outcomes of this deal could be that Pakistan and Bharat use their "business relationship" with Iran to persuade Mullahs towards sanity.
Re: US asks Pakistan to abandon gas project with Iran
Is US planning to replace both of these with something of equal or more value? If it is, then bring it on the table, and Pakistan can chose the deal that is more beneficial. Ofcourse, its not as simple as that, with international politics and arm-twisting involved, but to just out and say "don't do the deal, because we say so" doesn't work in the modern day relationship between nations.
Without India, this deal is dead. No matter how much Pakistan and Iran pray and wish, they simply do not have the resources to go it alone. This is a done deal.
There is nothing the US needs to do for Pakistan. Pakistan has already received billions in aid and military assistance for it's half hearted support of the war on terror.
Re: US asks Pakistan to abandon gas project with Iran
What.....is India going to run the pipeline around Pakistan through Afghanistan and China to get their gas? think before you type.
Perhaps you have not been keeping up with the news of the pipeline deal. The original Indian position was to build the pipeline through international waters. A bit more expensive, but it would escape the instability of Pakistan. Moreover, the absence of transit fees to Pakistan would compensate for the added cost. India never agreed, even in principle, to build through Pakistan.
Anyway, there is no question of Pakistan. If Pakistan does not agree, the pipeline goes through the sea, and Pakistan does not get transit fees. Either way, this deal is dead.
May I recommend knowing the facts prior to pontificating.
Re: US asks Pakistan to abandon gas project with Iran
Oh Baboo! Pakistan (or even Iran or Bharat) do not have funds and expertise to build this mega project. They need international banks, and indsustry to support this project.
You don't put a garden hose for transporting gas (unless it is a Mullahtic gas resulting from excessive halwa khori).
Modern gas pipelines are hight tech combination of computers, repressurization stations, and bunch of other material that is only available from the West.
Once Uncle Sam says no to a project, the cost goes up dramatically. Why because you have to buy parts from the black market.
So sit back and relax. No pap-line until a green signal comes down from DC.
