Pak is keen on Iran gas,but to follow sanctions
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Monday said Pakistan under the international obligations would adhere to any restrictions imposed against any country including Iran.
Mr Gilani was responding to a question whether there was any pressure on Pakistan regarding the multi-billion-dollar Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, after paying his respects at the mausoleum of two-time Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Garhi Khuda Bux, Larkana.
“Pakistan as a member of the international community has to follow any sanctions imposed,” the Prime Minister told reporters. On Sunday, US special representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke said that Pakistan should not rush into any gas project with Iran. “Pakistan is a sovereign country. It can take its own decisions but the anticipated US sanctions on Iran could hit the Pakistani companies if they continue with the (gas) project with Iran,” Mr Holbrooke warned.
Meanwhile, Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said it would be premature to give a final opinion on whether the US sanctions targeting Iran could affect the ambitious project, hours after US special envoy Richard Holbrooke said he had asked the Pakistanis not to “over-commit themselves until we know the legislation”.
Mr Qureshi said the $7.5 billion gas pipeline project should remain intact as it is in the best interests of the country at a time when it is grappling with an energy crisis. Pakistani experts hoped that the pipeline project would not be affected by US sanctions imposed on Iran and even US officials did not know for sure whether the pipeline would be affected by the restrictions, Mr Qureshi said.
However, if the pipeline falls under the restrictions, then Pakistan will not violate international laws, he said. Mr Qureshi said Pakistan will protect its interests with regard to energy, which is an essential requirement of the country.
“All the different phases of the gas pipeline agreement have been finalised and we wish that it should proceed forward,” Mr Qureshi said.
Foreign office spokesman Abdul Basit told the media that the Iran-Pakistan pipeline was not raised during meetings between Pakistani officials and Mr Holbrooke.
UN resolutions too do not prevent Pakistan from carrying on with the project because China and Russia had ensured that Iran’s energy sector is not targeted when UN Resolution 1929 was passed by the Security Council, he said.
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