Sources close to the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project have revealed to Profit that Pakistan is coming under increasing pressure from America to abandon the arrangement as Iran’s relationship with the west descends to fresh lows and war clouds gather over Tehran.
“There is a very real threat of the Iran-Pakistan gas project being abandoned. Islamabad is under immense pressure from Washington to ditch the project as the likelihood of a war with Iran is growing by the day,” said a senior official in the Iran-Pakistan gas project on the condition of anonymity.
Rock bottom
Relations between Pakistan and the US have hit rock bottom following the deadly NATO attacks on two Pakistani check posts close to the Afghan border that killed 24 military men. Pakistan’s army and government have reacted strongly, by cutting NATO supply-line and asking the US to vacate the Shamsi airbase.
Pakistan has long resisted western pressure to decouple from Iran, especially since the latter’s alleged quest for nuclear weaponry prompted widespread condemnation and sanctions in an international effort spearheaded by Washington. And while there has been considerable debate within Islamabad, recent Pak-US friction has underscored the need for Pakistan to safeguard its own energy interests.
Sources in Islamabad’s intelligentsia privy to confidential information told Profit that “Pakistan is in a severe existential crisis. Coupled with the embittered relationship with the US, our ally in the war on terror, there is a prevailing view that Pakistan must keep its options open in the quest for energy and not succumb to US pressure.”
Suitable alternative
Pakistan has been repeatedly advised to consider the TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) pipeline as a suitable alternative, a project Islamabad considers unviable in light of uncertainties regarding the pipeline’s passage through large areas of unstable and hostile Afghan territory. “We need to look at ground realities here. Both projects have been in the planning phase since 1992. Since the US invasion of Afghanistan, the country is hardly stable. The US-installed Afghan government is considered hostile towards Pakistan. To think it would be wise for us to invest billions of dollars in the TAPI pipeline that is to pass through Afghanistan would be a fatal error on our part,” said the Iran-Pakistan project official. According to conservative estimates, approximately 40 per cent of Afghanistan is still controlled by the Taleban. Then there is the problem of Afghan war lords enjoying US patronage, and it would not be a surprise if they heavily tax the gas pipeline. In a recent article in the New York Times, the author has claimed that another reason why Pakistan has kept its options open is the inherent distrust of the military leadership in the capability of the 170,000-strong Afghan army.
Pakistan feels the Afghan military might be vulnerable to breaking up into smaller factions in the event of a US withdrawal. This would have serious repercussions for Pakistan, if it comes to rely on gas entering Pakistan from a volatile and insecure Afghanistan.
Cost-benefit feasibility
“The Iran option is certainly more feasible. On paper, work is in progress and feasibilities are being finalsed. This project is a multifaceted one, with more than $3.5 billion in costs involved. This would require serious funding. Financing, is therefore a big project challenge,” sources in the IP project revealed. “Stakeholder consultation, along with social and environmental impact assessments, is being carried out. We are working on a timeline here, and if the infrastructure on our part is not ready by say 2014, then Iran will start charging us a significant amount every day, whether we utilise the gas or not.” With mounting global pressure on Iran, and the UN moving sanctions on the country, the likelihood of a full scale war is increasing by the day. Some analysts feel Iran’s quest for nuclear enrichment material – which it insists is being utilised for civilian nuclear energy programmes – will threaten the security of Israel. Iranian President Ahmedinijad and Iran’s military high-command have been very vocal about their opposition of the west.
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Listen ! Pakistan is a country who sacrificed more than all countries of the world in this so called “war on terror” actual meaning “war of terror” after playing the drama of 9/11 your illegal father (America) is invading all Muslim countries only sometimes portraying “they have biological weapons like Iraq, benefit of the humanity like Libya, peace keeping mission like Afghanistan, showing wrong image of Pakistan and now Nuclear weapons of Iran. Why all Muslim countries are the victims, have you ever thought about and whats wrong if Iran acquires nuclear weapons? If Israel gets nuclear weapons with the help and protection of America and if India gets nuclear weapons then Its very fine but if Pakistan makes nuclear weapons and Iran tries then its dangerous for the peace. Why its double standard for Muslims? By sacrificing more than 35000 lives, losing its whole economy in America’s war still Pakistan is blamed for everything. Can people like you, ask your fathers why it is?
100 % tight brother
right
🙁
Afterall we are the toys being played in America`s hands. upto what time.
correct me guys….
that other day dint our PM interject that no policy will be done outside the parliament. There hasn't been a whimper in parliament about this.
common Mr PM lets see you put your words and mouth in proper order.
Pakistan must not abandon gas pipeline project with Iran. Iran is our neighbour and can be trusted. America has no interest in this region except its thirst for economic exploitation. Muslim countries must forge unity amongst themselves. Otherwise, the Jews & Christians will not let us live in peace. Just like NATO is primarily an alliance of the Christians, Muslims must forge an alliance of their own. We should pursue dreams of our leaders like Bhutto & Faisal.
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