This refers to front page news that appeared in your esteemed paper (30 Jan) that says that Pakistan links restoration of NATO supply to IP pipeline. It is very strange that Pakistan has linked opening up NATO supply route with the IP pipeline. This is tantamount to weakening our case beyond repair. In fact, NATO supply route has nothing to do with the IP pipeline; it is altogether a separate project. It is true that US has been opposing this project right from day one to put Iran under pressure.
The closure of NATO supply route was on account of breaching our sovereignty and wanton attack on our known Salala check post where 26 soldiers including officers were killed. Pakistan is committed to Iran gas pipeline and wants to meet the target of its completion by 2014.This was totally an independent project and not linked to any other conditions. Pakistan had categorically rejected the US request for abandoning the project and turned down their offer of provision of cheaper gas from Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-Iran (TAPI) as this route is more vulnerable and over 40 percent is under the control of Taliban, its maintenance cost would be much higher that Pakistan can ill-afford.
At this particular time when US is under pressure Pakistan’s somersault is detrimental to her interests, we must weigh our words carefully to avoid complications. Pakistan is a sovereign independent state and is free to enter into agreements with any country and the US has no business to intervene and create hurdles.
MUKHTAR AHMED
Karachi
