Iran may cancel $7bn gas pipeline deal with Pakistan: Iranian media

[BHarwana]

Dynamics within Asia are fast evolving bringing forward new alliances. China-Pakistan-Russia alliance is one of the more talked about in the recent past, with the three countries collaborating to counter terrorism, and enhancing mutual cooperation on trade, defense and energy. Recently, Iran expressed its willingness to join hands with China, Pakistan and Russia.

Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the head of Iran parliament’s committee on national security and foreign policy, was on a three-day visit to Islamabad. In a news conference on Friday, he hinted the formation of four-nation alliance. He had wide-ranging talks with Pakistani authorities including National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. (retd.) Nasser Khan Janjua, and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz. While speaking to the reporters he said that new alliances will be formed now that Donald Trump is the President of the United States. He said that under the changing circumstances, China, Pakistan, Russia and Iran should cooperate with each other for regional peace and stability.

Recently, China, Pakistan and Russia held discussions on peace in Afghanistan. Reports suggested that the three may extend an invitation to Tehran to join the discussions seeking a political solution to eradicate unrest in Afghanistan. Boroujerdi acknowledged that Iran and Pakistan could play an important role in helping Afghanistan.

Iran’s Chahbahar port was also brought up the reporters. Boroujerdi said that Chahbahar and Pakistan’s Gwadar were sister ports and as such, Tehran was willing to join the China Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC). According to him, the project had potential to benefitting Iran tremendously. Several other countries have expressed a desire to join CPEC.

 

[The SC]

We don't even have the money to build existing pipeline let alone larger diameter of pipeline. Brother China will help build Gwadar-Nawabshah pipeline which will be connected to Iran later by adding 80km link from Gwadar to Iran. That is all it is... Pakistan is looking for import of gas from Qatar which is supposedly cheaper than Iran but even that is not enough for now. We also need TAPI to reduce some loadshedding by the time they all gets completed

Night night

So it is more of a financial issue than technicalities, I understand brother and wish the best for Pakistan..

 

[BHarwana]

So it is more of a financial issue than technicalities, I understand brother and wish the best for Pakistan..

It is neither a finical issue nor a technical issue, it is a DIPLOMATIC issue.

 

[A.A. Khan]

hahha good riddance,Pakistani govt. does'nt pay for projects, either they ask for aid or a loan with the other party funding for the time being, at least I'm happy our govt. pathetic approach worked.Iranians are reactionary which
Americans want,, so they can squeeze them further. Pakistan should back off and continue with LNG with arab peninsula, saudi, qatar [GCC] and Central Asia. Uncertain where US/Iran ties will go from here.

 

[BHarwana]

UAE Troops Marching in India. Pipeline Back on track finally.

 

[The SC]

Dynamics within Asia are fast evolving bringing forward new alliances. China-Pakistan-Russia alliance is one of the more talked about in the recent past, with the three countries collaborating to counter terrorism, and enhancing mutual cooperation on trade, defense and energy. Recently, Iran expressed its willingness to join hands with China, Pakistan and Russia.

Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the head of Iran parliament’s committee on national security and foreign policy, was on a three-day visit to Islamabad. In a news conference on Friday, he hinted the formation of four-nation alliance. He had wide-ranging talks with Pakistani authorities including National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. (retd.) Nasser Khan Janjua, and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz. While speaking to the reporters he said that new alliances will be formed now that Donald Trump is the President of the United States. He said that under the changing circumstances, China, Pakistan, Russia and Iran should cooperate with each other for regional peace and stability.

Recently, China, Pakistan and Russia held discussions on peace in Afghanistan. Reports suggested that the three may extend an invitation to Tehran to join the discussions seeking a political solution to eradicate unrest in Afghanistan. Boroujerdi acknowledged that Iran and Pakistan could play an important role in helping Afghanistan.

Iran’s Chahbahar port was also brought up the reporters. Boroujerdi said that Chahbahar and Pakistan’s Gwadar were sister ports and as such, Tehran was willing to join the China Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC). According to him, the project had potential to benefitting Iran tremendously. Several other countries have expressed a desire to join CPEC.

The problem is, it will be hard to form such an alliance, since there are already some existing alliances between Iran and Russia, Between Russia and China and between China and Pakistan, all based on different strategies and interests.. Where this Iranian suggested alliance might succeed is strictly on the economical front, but studies will most certainly will be conducted on the pros and cons of the Shahbahar port vis-a-vis Gwadar port..
As for Afghanistan, there is always this American X-factor looming around and not to be forgotten or ignored..

 

[BHarwana]

The problem is, it will be hard to form such an alliance, since there are already some existing alliances between Iran and Russia, Between Russia and China and between China and Pakistan, all based on different strategies and interests.. Where this Iranian suggested alliance might succeed is strictly on the economical front, but studies will most certainly will be conducted on the pros and cons of the Shahbahar port vis-a-vis Gwadar port..
As for Afghanistan, there is always this American X-factor looming around and not to be forgotten or ignored..

As Russia, China and Pakistan work+ towards building a new axis in Afghanistan to accommodate Taliban as a tool against the Islamic Sate terror group, it could have unforeseen consequences for the Russia-India relationship.

On Tuesday, China, Pakistan and Russia met in Moscow to discuss Afghanistan's "deteriorating" security situation, despite strong protests from the Afghan government. The three countries relented towards the end of the day's discussions and said that they would expand the group to include Afghanistan the next time. There is already a move to induct Iran into this group.

Nandan Unnikrishnan, Russia analyst at Observer Research Foundation, said, "In the present context of limited communication between India and Russia, Russia's actions could lead to a drift in relations."

The statement issued at the end of the meeting said, "The Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China as the UN Security Council permanent members confirmed their flexible approach to delisting Afghan individuals from the UN sanctions lists as their contribution to the efforts aimed at launching peaceful dialogue between Kabul and Taliban."

This could, if Russia and China press ahead, and if the US does not block, result in the removal of some top Taliban leaders from the UNSC sanctions list. Afghanistan, incidentally, has asked for the new Taliban chief to be included in the list.

Conspicuous by its absence at the meet was India, which continues to hold Taliban as the biggest threat+ in Afghanistan. Besides India, the Afghan government and the US both agree to this.

The Afghan government is currently going through its own political crisis, with the two key leaders of the unity government, President Ashraf Ghani and CEO Abdullah Abdullah, at loggerheads. The US, which has 9,800 troops in a counter-terrorism role is unsure of how it will utilise its presence in Afghanistan under a Trump administration.

India is holding on to the "red lines" for integration of Taliban into the Afghan government but that seems to be getting diluted by the new axis, which is less Afghan-led and more Pakistan-led, putting Pakistan once again in the driver's seat on Afghanistan's future.

Iran, which has been doing its own outreach to Taliban, is equally apprehensive of the fallout of IS cadres relocating to Afghanistan as they get driven out of Syria and Iraq.

 

[The SC]

It is neither a finical issue nor a technical issue, it is a DIPLOMATIC issue.

Yes that is another dimension to it..

 

[BHarwana]

Yes that is another dimension to it..

This is the only dimension USA KSA UAE Israel UK every one against it.
China Russia Iran Azerbaijan in favor of it.

 

[The SC]

As Russia, China and Pakistan work+ towards building a new axis in Afghanistan to accommodate Taliban as a tool against the Islamic Sate terror group, it could have unforeseen consequences for the Russia-India relationship.

On Tuesday, China, Pakistan and Russia met in Moscow to discuss Afghanistan's "deteriorating" security situation, despite strong protests from the Afghan government. The three countries relented towards the end of the day's discussions and said that they would expand the group to include Afghanistan the next time. There is already a move to induct Iran into this group.

Nandan Unnikrishnan, Russia analyst at Observer Research Foundation, said, "In the present context of limited communication between India and Russia, Russia's actions could lead to a drift in relations."

The statement issued at the end of the meeting said, "The Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China as the UN Security Council permanent members confirmed their flexible approach to delisting Afghan individuals from the UN sanctions lists as their contribution to the efforts aimed at launching peaceful dialogue between Kabul and Taliban."

This could, if Russia and China press ahead, and if the US does not block, result in the removal of some top Taliban leaders from the UNSC sanctions list. Afghanistan, incidentally, has asked for the new Taliban chief to be included in the list.

Conspicuous by its absence at the meet was India, which continues to hold Taliban as the biggest threat+ in Afghanistan. Besides India, the Afghan government and the US both agree to this.

The Afghan government is currently going through its own political crisis, with the two key leaders of the unity government, President Ashraf Ghani and CEO Abdullah Abdullah, at loggerheads. The US, which has 9,800 troops in a counter-terrorism role is unsure of how it will utilise its presence in Afghanistan under a Trump administration.

India is holding on to the "red lines" for integration of Taliban into the Afghan government but that seems to be getting diluted by the new axis, which is less Afghan-led and more Pakistan-led, putting Pakistan once again in the driver's seat on Afghanistan's future.

Iran, which has been doing its own outreach to Taliban, is equally apprehensive of the fallout of IS cadres relocating to Afghanistan as they get driven out of Syria and Iraq.

Afghanistan is thus a real quagmire, only Pakistan knows its deep realities and now backed by two world powers it might help bring in peace to the country, on the opposite side you have internal quarrels and an unsure action from the US which leaves India's Afghan war strategy almost naked in the eyes of many, including some of its main allies, like Russia..

 

[BHarwana]

Afghanistan is thus a real quagmire, only Pakistan knows its deep realities and now backed by two world powers it might help bring in peace to the country, on the opposite side you have internal quarrels and an unsure action from the US which lives India's Afghan war strategy almost naked in the eyes of many, including some of its main allies, like Russia..

There is an alliance about to take place in Asia Bigger than any in the world and emergence of a new Super power in the world. India went west for USA so now this new Axis will go ahead and no one can do any thing about it.
Russia China Pakistan Iran Turkey things are moving and Afghanistan needs to be stabilized for that.

 

[The SC]

This is the only dimension USA KSA UAE Israel UK every one against it.
China Russia Iran Azerbaijan in favor of it.

It is a UN issue and Pakistan is prudent and plays its cards safely.. Pakistan knows what sanctions are!!!

There is an alliance about to take place in Asia Bigger than any in the world and emergence of a new Super power in the world. India went west for USA so now this new Axis will go ahead and no one can do any thing about it.
Russia China Pakistan Iran Turkey things are moving and Afghanistan needs to be stabilized for that.

Yes Afghanistan is a key issue in this Asian alliance, A stable Afghanistan will make it twice stronger.. because of no more Indian and Western hassles..

 

[BHarwana]

Yes Afghanistan is a key issue in this Asian alliance, A stable Afghanistan will make it twice stronger.. because of no more Indian and Western hassles..

Americans and Indians both need to leave Afghanistan so the bordering countries are Iran and Pakistan. China wants to extract copper from Afghanistan we need a favorable Gov. If Afghanistan Gov don't realizes who runs the affairs here than it will be a regime change and USA and India will be made to leave the area.

It is a UN issue and Pakistan is prudent and plays its cards safely.. Pakistan knows what sanctions are!!!

No more a UN issue China and Russia are permanent members and China is building the pipeline it's self. So just use your imagination what will happen.

 

[AmirPatriot]

Iran built it's side of the pipeline years ago. Iran has fully committed to helping Pakistan solve its energy shortage. It is quite disrespectful to delay it for so long and even while the pipeline isn't completed, demand a lower price.

If Pakistan wants to negotiate on price that's fine, but that doesn't mean you get to hold the project, nor does it mean you get to buy at an unprofitable price.

Those who say go ahead and cancel it should realise that would mean Pakistan would have to compensate Iran for all the investment Iran made in expectation of Pakistan completing the project. Therefore neither side wants cancellation.

I agree with others and this was mostly slowed due to pressure from foreign countries like USA and Saudi who didn't want Iran's economic success nor did they want Iran and Pakistan to have improved relations.

But for Pakistanis - Pakistan has an energy shortage and Iran - it's neighbour - has lots of energy resources... what is the problem here?

 

[PaklovesTurkiye]

Iran built it's side of the pipeline years ago. Iran has fully committed to helping Pakistan solve its energy shortage. It is quite disrespectful to delay it for so long and even while the pipeline isn't completed, demand a lower price.

If Pakistan wants to negotiate on price that's fine, but that doesn't mean you get to hold the project, nor does it mean you get to buy at an unprofitable price.

Those who say go ahead and cancel it should realise that would mean Pakistan would have to compensate Iran for all the investment Iran made in expectation of Pakistan completing the project. Therefore neither side wants cancellation.

I agree with others and this was mostly slowed due to pressure from foreign countries like USA and Saudi who didn't want Iran's economic success nor did they want Iran and Pakistan to have improved relations.

But for Pakistanis - Pakistan has an energy shortage and Iran - it's neighbour - has lots of energy resources... what is the problem here?

I think You also have to pay/compensate Turkiye almost 1.9 billion dollars in gas dispute you guys had with Turkiye....

You are selling way above market price, it seems...Thats why Pakistan is taking their time and looking for other buyers so that they can afford best of the sellers with good quality and lower price...