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WASHINGTON: Pakistan risks imposition of stringent US and UN sanctions if proposed Iran-Pakistan pipeline deal goes through, Wall Street Journal says in a report.
“Washington has made it clear that it will impose economic sanctions on Islamabad if it begins to buy gas from Iran. Besides, the UN mandated sanctions on any trade with the oil-rich country,” the newspaper said.
In a written reply to The Wall Street Journal, the US embassy in Islamabad reiterated the US position and said: “Our policy on Iran is well known. We have made it clear to all of our interlocutors around the world that it is in their interests to avoid activities that may be prohibited by United Nations sanctions or sanctionable under US law.”
Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said on Tuesday that the pipeline would be a “big leap forward” in resolving country’s crippling power crisis.
The WSJ says: “While the pipeline could bring relief to energy-starved Pakistan, analysts say that the deal reveals more about the geopolitical dynamics between the US, Pakistan and Iran than about the government’s commitment to address the energy crisis.”
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Comments (17) Closed
Feb 21, 2013 07:00am
This means that to please US Pakistan should stop giving basic amenities to its people. The govt should do what is need of the time for us.
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Feb 21, 2013 03:23am
Don't worry about US and go for the deal. They can't do anything. Maximum, they can put sanction on payment in USD or EURO.
Make payment in PKR and boost exports to Iran. As they stay without any option of spending PKR.
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Feb 21, 2013 05:55am
Please sanction Pakistan. Last time USA sanctioned Pakistan from 1998-2003, Pakistan became so independent in dozens of sectors. Our people need to learn to become independent. Sanctions can never hurt us.
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Feb 21, 2013 06:19am
on the face of it, its a good step by govt to move forward with pipeline but they are doing it right before moving out of govt so to take credit and leave the Pak/US relationship mess to be cleaned by next govt.
As a Pakistani BTW, I care least about US sanctions because either way US is up for bringing us down to our knees and keep us there and we have long served as their servants so this time around let's try it other way.
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Feb 21, 2013 03:35am
Pakistan should consider what benefit pakistan not the rest of the world or UN. Did UN or any other country try to help us with our energy needs not at all. Our neighbour will be our neighbour as long as this world exist but other will be either friends or enemies.
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Feb 21, 2013 05:47am
Strong relationship with closest neighbors is the most important! Pakistan must focus on improvement in ties with Afghanistan, China, Russia, Iran, Indian and Central Asian States.
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Feb 21, 2013 05:50am
Please leave Pakistan alone. For once this country is trying, or at least pretending, to make a popular decision
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Feb 21, 2013 05:48am
US stubbornness with Pakistan. If the US Govt had cared so much about Pakistan energy needs, they would have given Pakistan (so called ally) civil nuke technology long time ago. Way before India.
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Feb 21, 2013 05:48am
Such decision should be taken by next govt. as current govt. don't have much time and it may trap for next govt. b/c. of economic sanctions
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Feb 21, 2013 06:01am
Either America is with Pakistan or against it on Pakistan's decision to go ahead with the gas pipeline with Iran afterall, it provides much needed much cheaper and a much reliable substitute then the American proposed and endorsed Rental Power Projects that we all know the kind of goodwill gesture that was from America and how successful that turned out to be for the people of Pakistan (pun intended). America now will take the opportunity to kick the nation around cause it sees that the things begin to get less corruptible and they do all that kicking around by calling themselves friends at the same time and its nothing new. They have been doing this for decades. Who are we kidding?
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Feb 21, 2013 02:05am
They have you covered, haven't they? If not UN laws they have their own laws to force you bow down to them. Pity.
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Feb 21, 2013 06:41am
Pakistan must invoke Article-50 of the UN charter. Every country has a right to consider the economic well being of its people first. And for the analysts quoting "geopolitical dynamics", the IPI predates the sanctions.
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Feb 21, 2013 08:52am
It's time that countries around the world join forces and ignore US's threat. It's in Pakistan's interest to improve its energy crisis and dictatorial behaviour by the US should be ignored. Does US listen to the rest of the world when it comes to Israeli brutal behaviour towards the Palestinians? The answer is NO. They even ignore what the UNGA or most members of UNSC believe.
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Feb 21, 2013 10:04am
Pakistan, go ahead. Don't worry about sanctions. You would be self sufficient. Sanction will make you stronger and respectful among world communities.
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Feb 23, 2013 12:13am
The problem is that the sanctions approach is very short sighted. Pakistan will have unmet energy needs for the next half century or more. Make the pipe line (it will take a few years if you start now), just stop short of turning the taps on, in the mean time the Iran crisis will be over and oil/gas can then flow freely.
In short, Iran of today will not be the same Iran years from now. Infrastructure developed today will pay for itself for decades to come.
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Feb 21, 2013 10:21am
It is obvious the the Iran-Pakistan gas pipe lin, an existential need for Pakistan, cannot be sacrificed for the geopolitical games of USA or others in the region.
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Feb 21, 2013 12:06pm
Pakistan must not bend on the gas import from Iran. Enough humiliations have been heaped upon the poor Pakistanis; sanctions have become a way of life for Pakistan. The US sanctiond might just release enternal energies and generate self-reliance from within Pakistan.
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