Aletho News

US diktat on Iran pipeline not to be entertained

By Baqir Sajjad Syed | 11 Apr, 2010

Last month the US counseled Pakistan against entering into a deal with Iran for building a multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline. “We do not think it is the right time for doing this kind of transaction with Iran,” US Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake said recently.

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office said on Saturday Islamabad would not entertain pressure by Washington on its decision to have cooperation with Iran in the energy sector.

“We would like to have cooperation with Iran in all areas. If there are opportunities, Pakistan will pursue those. We have concluded the IP gas pipeline project with Iran. … This is our sovereign decision and the government of Pakistan will take decisions only in consonance with its own national interests,” Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said at a media briefing.

The remarks came on the eve of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s meeting with President Obama. The meeting precedes a nuclear security summit scheduled for April 12 and 13 in Washington.

The meeting is a follow-up to last month’s strategic dialogue and part of efforts to transform the transactional nature of Pakistan-US relationship to a partnership.

Last month the US counseled Pakistan against entering into a deal with Iran for building a multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline. “We do not think it is the right time for doing this kind of transaction with Iran,” US Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake said recently.

He said Pakistan had been asked to seek alternatives because of a dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme.

The situation poses a complex test for Pakistan’s diplomacy as the country aspires to have a civilian nuclear energy package from the US while pursuing the gas pipeline project with Iran.

“Our country is facing energy deficit. We are exploring all possible avenues to overcome our energy problem,” the spokesman said.

In an attempt to strike a delicate balance in its relations with the US and Iran, Pakistan has decided to attend the international disarmament conference convened by Tehran on April 17 and 18 — shortly after the nuclear summit and a fortnight before the nuclear non-proliferation treaty review.

The decision to attend the rival conference, albeit at a junior level with the country’s ambassador in Vienna representing Pakistan, is being seen in diplomatic circles as very significant because Tehran has convened the conference in a bid to counter the hardline attitude of the US-led international community towards its nuclear programme.

Moreover, it is interesting to note that Pakistan does not expect Iran to be censured at the US nuclear summit.

“We have been actively involved in the preparatory process of the nuclear security summit and I can tell you that its outcome will not be country specific,” Mr Basit said.

He said Pakistan believed all countries had the right to access nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. However, he said, countries should adhere to their international obligations and if there were differences and disputes these should be resolved through peaceful means and negotiations.

April 12, 2010 - Posted by aletho | Wars for Israel