Islamabad, Sept 14(ANI): The United States is likely to persuade Pakistan to abandon the multi-billion dollar Iran gas pipeline project when senior officials from both sides open talks today in Islamabad to discuss energy cooperation, a Pakistani newspaper has said.
The two-day discussion on energy cooperation, under the banner of Pak-US strategic dialogue, comes in the backdrop of recent high-level exchanges between Islamabad and Tehran, in which the two neighbours vowed to expedite the gas pipeline project.
The talks are expected to be tense after Pakistan renewed this week its commitment to the Iran gas pipeline project despite US objections in this regard, The Express Tribune reports.
Washington has long been pushing Islamabad to stay away from the project, warning that the economic sanctions on Iran could affect the pipeline, the report said.
In recent months, Pakistan has reached out to its neighbours, including Iran and China, in an effort to offset the possible fallout of its strained ties with the US.
Last week, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani told the visiting Iranian Foreign Minister that Pakistan has decided to reach out to its neighbouring countries, such as Iran, Afghanistan, India, China, Russia and central Asian states, to improve its relations in qualitative terms.
Despite Gilani's remarks, the energy dialogue appears to suggest that Pakistan considers America's help key to meeting its future energy demands.
During the two-day discussions, the two sides will discuss the possibility of US financing the Diamer Basha Dam, the report said.
US Special Envoy for International Energy Affairs, Carlos Pascual, who arrived here on Tuesday, will lead the American delegation, while Pakistan will be represented by Water and Power Minister Naveed Qamar. (ANI)
|
|
Read More: Russi
Comments:
