Pakistan under foreign pressure over Iran deal
Mon, 06 Jul 2009 05:37:57 GMT
A senior Pakistani official reveals that two major western and Islamic states are exerting pressure on Islamabad to scrap its multi-billion-dollar gas deal with Iran.
The initial agreement of the $7.5 billion Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, also known as the Peace Pipeline, was signed in Tehran in May between the Iranian and Pakistani presidents.
Iran says that via the pipeline it will deliver eight billion cubic meters of natural gas to Pakistan annually.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Petroleum Asim Hussain told The News; "two powerful countries--one a Western power and the other an all important brother Islamic country--were putting pressure on Pakistan to ditch the project".
He did not disclose the name of the countries.
The official, however, insisted that the Pakistani government would not yield to the pressures to give up the plans and will go ahead with the project based on "mutual national interests''.
Hussain says "the Islamic brotherly country" asked Pakistan to reduce its "close ties with Iran because of other politico-religious differences".
The comment came as Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has asked the parliament to approve the vital project as Pakistan is in grave need of gas and electricity.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources is urged to prepare a feasibility report on the viability of bringing the gas pipeline through an underwater sea route.
The News says Galiani was briefed that "the sea route was comparatively more secure and also cost effective as it would not only save $2 billion but also reduce the pipeline stretch by 150 km".
Pakistan and India have been under pressures from Washington to abandon the deal.
Pakistan under foreign pressure over Iran deal
Mon, 06 Jul 2009 05:37:57 GMT
A senior Pakistani official reveals that two major western and Islamic states are exerting pressure on Islamabad to scrap its multi-billion-dollar gas deal with Iran.
The initial agreement of the $7.5 billion Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, also known as the Peace Pipeline, was signed in Tehran in May between the Iranian and Pakistani presidents.
Iran says that via the pipeline it will deliver eight billion cubic meters of natural gas to Pakistan annually.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Petroleum Asim Hussain told The News; "two powerful countries--one a Western power and the other an all important brother Islamic country--were putting pressure on Pakistan to ditch the project".
He did not disclose the name of the countries.
The official, however, insisted that the Pakistani government would not yield to the pressures to give up the plans and will go ahead with the project based on "mutual national interests''.
Hussain says "the Islamic brotherly country" asked Pakistan to reduce its "close ties with Iran because of other politico-religious differences".
The comment came as Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has asked the parliament to approve the vital project as Pakistan is in grave need of gas and electricity.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources is urged to prepare a feasibility report on the viability of bringing the gas pipeline through an underwater sea route.
The News says Galiani was briefed that "the sea route was comparatively more secure and also cost effective as it would not only save $2 billion but also reduce the pipeline stretch by 150 km".
Pakistan and India have been under pressures from Washington to abandon the deal.
Pakistan under foreign pressure over Iran deal
