US warns Pakistan of sanctions over Iran gas pipeline deal

[indian_foxhound]

US warns Pakistan of sanctions over Iran gas pipeline deal - thenews.com.pk

SUKKUR: US Consul General Michael Dodman has
said that the US State Department will impose
sanctions on Pakistan if it carries on work on
the Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline Project. He added it
was a clear policy of the US because Iran had
violated the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty and was continuing nuclear proliferation. He stated this while talking to selected journalists
here at a local hotel on Monday.When asked that
Pakistan as an independent country can chalk out
a policy which suits it to address the energy
crisis, he said that the Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline
Project was against the US laws so they will not support Pakistan in this regard. He said that the US wanted to see a stronger
Pakistan as well as democracy. He said that
Pakistan and Afghanistan have to talk about
Pakistani and Afghan Taliban, which create
problems between the two countries. Talking about business and trade ties, he said
that the US respects the Pakistani laws and gives
free trade access to Islamabad without any duty. The consul general said that the State Department
had been motivating the US business community
to invest in Pakistan. However, he said that the
US business community had shown security
concerns over the law and order situation in
Pakistan. He added that there was no security concern in interior Sindh and that was why the
State Department was making efforts to build up
the confidence of the US business community for
direct investment in Sindh and in this regard the
focus was on Karachi Chamber of Commerce as
well as the Sindh Board of Investment. The consul general said that there were good
crops of dates and rice in Sindh and pledged that
the US was ready to import these items.He said
that the State Department has planned to launch
hydro electric projects in Pakistan, especially in
Sindh, to address the energy crisis. The official dispelled the impression that the US
was behind the political instability in Pakistan.The
US diplomat said that the US believes in having
good relations with Pakistan and wanted to see
a strong democracy here. He said that the US was
not supporting any political party in the forthcoming elections. Dodman said that the US
wants real democracy not a controlled one in
Pakistan. Meanwhile, US Consul General Michael Dodman
paid a visit at Kot Diji Fort in Khairpur.On the
occasion, he said that the US has launched many
projects of assistance for the preservation and
conservation of the archeological sites in Sindh In the meantime, a press release issued by the US
spokesman said the United States Consul General
Michael Dodman and US Embassy Political
Counselor Jonathan Pratt visited Sukkur and
surrounding areas this week to strengthen ties
with the people of Sindh, experience Sindhi culture and raise awareness of many US funded
projects in the areas of education, health and
economic growth. During the visit, CG Dodman and Political
Counselor Pratt visited Kot Diji Fort, IBA Sukkur
and met with civil society, business, media and
political leaders. Speaking to the press, CG Dodman noted, “I have
been impressed by the depth of local culture and
the warmth of everyone I have met. It is a source
of pride that the United States is providing tens of
millions of dollars to support basic education in
Sindh, construct new hospitals and rebuild flood damaged schools among many other projects.”
CG Dodman is dedicated to strengthening the
people-to-people ties between the United States
and Pakistan and is deeply committed to
deepening the economic engagement between
our two countries. He promises to return to upper Sindh in the near future.

 

[EagleEyes]

Please try.

 

[Rank]

good work "Pakistan No.1 Enemy" ... apply sanction.... go ahead!@

 

[datalibdaz]

Go ahead and deal Afghanistan yourself then..

 

[for truth]

what more sanctions can harm them when their economy is already in shambles, isolated in nuclear technology,unsafe in any sense for any activity, there is hardly any business deals with outside nations etc etc, its like they are already living under sanctions, although no admits to it but every one can feel it.

 

[anilindia]

This is worst to come.....

 

[niaz]

It is well known in the oil industry that Iran-Pakistan pipeline project faces strong opposition from the US. US have also been waving the carrot of Turkmenistan pipeline even though that appears to be even less of a possibility, mainly to delay the IPI project indefinitely.

Countries such as India, South Korea and Japan have been granted dispensation from the sanctions for the crude import from Iran; albeit at half the quantity that these countries were importing before the sanctions. It is a matter of negotiation with the US State Dep’t.

I know for certain that no work has as yet started on the Iran side and there is the ever present danger of BLA blowing up the pipeline and kidnapping/ killing the construction workers. We can curse the great US Satan to our heart’s content, but this is one project where CIA is certain to support Afghanistan based BLA saboteurs. Therefore regardless of the rhetoric; expectation that this project can be completed in next 2 to 3 years in unrealistic to say the least.

Pakistan needs are immediate. Import of LNG is the most pragmatic option which IMHO Pakistan oil ministry should concentrate on a priority basis if they are serious about resolving the gas shortage.

 

[darkinsky]

yes BLA is being armed and supported by US and it would sabotage the pipe line taking bribes from CIA and US

we need to kick american puppets in our government and try tp persue the IP gas line

 

[janon]

Is this the same Iran-pak-India pipeline that used to be talked about earlier, or is it a different Iran-pak pipeline?

 

[OrionHunter]

Funny isn't it? The Yanks have just released a $700 million package to Pakistan and in the same breath they're talking of sanctions? They've really lost it! The left hand doesn't seem to know what the right one is doing! Jeeez!

 

[Che Guevara]

Please try.

they will, wait for 2014

 

[JanjaWeed]

Is this the same TAPI pipeline that India wants, or the Iran-pak-India pipeline that used to be talked about earlier, or is it a different Iran-pak pipeline?

Initially it was suppose to be IPI (IRAN-PAKISTAN-INDIA) & now it's just IP. TAPI (TURKMENISTAN-AFRGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN-INDIA) is the one US wants Pakistan to go for....

 

[Cheetah786]

Funny isn't it? The Yanks have just released a $700 million package to Pakistan and in the same breath they're talking of sanctions? They've really lost it! The left hand doesn't seem to know what the right one is doing! Jeeez!

$700 million to pakistani elite not to pakistan.

 

[janon]

Funny isn't it? The Yanks have just released a $700 million package to Pakistan and in the same breath they're talking of sanctions? They've really lost it! The left hand doesn't seem to know what the right one is doing! Jeeez!

It's called a carrot and stick approach, which the USA knows it can play with Pakistan. If they enforce sanctions, the damage it will do to the pak economy will be in the billions. Frankly, I don't think Pakistan can survive US sanctions. Iran is now facing a huge shortfall of medicines, and other essential commodities due to US sanctions. If a gas rich, energy rich, middle income country like Iran can be suffocated, think about what American sanctions can do to Pakistan.

I don't mean this as an insult to Pakistan, but it is the reality. US sanctions can suffocate almost any country. Whether US can threaten a country with sanctions or not depends on that country's international clout and dependence.

Initially it was suppose to be IPI (IRAN-PAKISTAN-INDIA) & now it's just IP. TAPI (TAJIKISTAN-AFRGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN-INDIA) is the one US wants Pakistan to go for....

Turkmenitan, not Tajikistan.

So the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline has been "buried" and shelved? That's sad, because natural gas can do wonders for our economy, and our air quality.

 

[Peaceful Civilian]

First give us UCAV technology or some alternative gas pipeline project.