Pakistan rejected US pressure over its gas pipeline project with Iran as today the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, inaugurated the much delayed construction of pipeline on Pakistani side. The inauguration ceremony took place in the border area of Iran as Mr. Zardari flew, with a big delegation, to inaugurate the project with his Iranian counterpart.
The United Sates issued warnings to Pakistan to cancel this natural gas deal. Iran is under sanctions by the United Nations and US for its atomic program. US urged Pakistan to refrain from making any deals with Iran or else Pakistan would also have to face the music by coming under sanctions.
Iran has already constructed the pipeline over its side, whereas Pakistan was delaying the project because of immense pressure from the United States. As elections are approaching and Pakistan is still no way near to the resolution of its energy and power crisis, ruling party has taken this bold step to gain some momentum in the coming campaigns. India was also part of this deal that initiated in 1990, but she quit in 2009 mentioning cost and security issues but behind the scenes important thing was the US pressure. Washington signed a nuclear deal with India to compel her to come out of this deal. Pakistan has also been asking the US for a peaceful nuclear deal in order to overcome the power crisis. Amid of the continuous refusals from the US, Pakistan has finally embarked on this bold deal with the Iran.
Speaking on the occasion, Iranian President without mentioning US said that foreign players would not be allowed to affect Iran-Pakistan relationships. He further added that this deal would not assist Iran in any way over its nuclear program. Pakistani President stressed the importance of the pipeline for Pakistan by saying that Pakistan was in dire need of this project in order to overcome the power shortages. He went on saying that their friends in Washington would understand that you couldnot change your neighbors.
Pakistan’s stock market showed a negative trend to this deal as it closed down lower because of the threat of sanctions from the United States. Fear of the sanctions prevailed in the market.
The United States again showed serious concerns over this inauguration. When asked about the possible sanctions in a briefing, spokeswoman of US State Department Victoria Nuland said that if Pakistan went further over this deal with Iran, it may trigger severe sanctions. She bluntly refused to rule out the concerns that forced Pakistani Stock Market to close down. United States may cut its billions of dollars of aid to Pakistan if Pakistan continues this project.
Many circles in Pakistan claim that if US is not happy with this deal then it must assist Pakistan with its energy crisis in some other ways. Political pundits and analysts were of the view that if US has refused to make a peaceful nuclear deal with Pakistan that will reduce the power shortage, then it has no right to stop Pakistan from moving to other alternatives.
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