Iran-Pak gas pipeline project has history of 'false starts and hiccups': US

Islamabad, Feb 18 (ANI): The US State Department has refused to predict whether or not the proposed Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project would succeed, saying that it had already seen many 'false starts'.

"If, in fact, the pipeline does go forward - and there have been a lot of false starts and backing-and-forthing on that - you know, we have issues of concern. And we've been very clear about those with the government of Pakistan," The Dawn quoted State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland, as saying.

On being asked about her opinion on Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's earlier comments that if any country attacked Iran, Islamabad would support Iran in that fight, Nuland said: "The goal of the process that we are engaged in, the two-track process of pressure and openness to talks under the right circumstances, is designed to ensure that we can solve this diplomatically and it doesn't come to the scenario that you referred."

Reports suggested yesterday that Pakistani leaders had assured Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that they would go ahead with the gas pipeline and electricity import projects despite international sanctions on Tehran.

Although he couldn't get a firm timetable for making the energy projects operational, he appeared to have been satisfied with pledges of speeding them up and, in return, offered to enhance bilateral trade to ten billion dollars in a couple of months.

"The President (Asif Ali Zardari) reiterated commitment for expeditious implementation of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, 1,000MW electricity transmission line and 100MW Gwadar power supply," a statement issued by the presidency said.

Referring to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's meeting with Ahmadinejad, the PM's Office press release said: "Both leaders agreed to pursue the energy projects including electricity and gas on fast-track basis. They also discussed the status of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline." (ANI)