Sharif govt puts Iran pipeline 'off the table'.

[Jaanbaz]

The 'true Muslims' are not Arabians, but the ones who sit in the White House. That's where the KSA policies originate from, and are subsequently tested on the people of Pakistan.

But we are the blind sheep. We follow to the slaughter houses everyday without even thinking. We care more about Muslim ''Ummah'' then our own poor and oppressed people.

 

[VCheng]

It's hard to know what to believe in this whole mess...

Iran gas pipeline not in favour of Pakistan: report - DAWN.COM

“We have an agreement with Iran that we will buy gas for $15/ MMBTU. However, Turkmenistan is supplying gas to Japan at a rate of $4/ MMBTU,” he said.

Now, I am sure Japan is getting some sort of volume discount from Turkmenistan, but such a price differential seems a bit much!

The price of the gas in the IP deal is tied to the price of crude oil, while the other deals being mentioned are based on the world market prices for natural gas, which have been falling and are expected to remain low or fall further.

 

[Hyperion]

Agreed. USD4 seems way way off.

It's hard to know what to believe in this whole mess...

Iran gas pipeline not in favour of Pakistan: report - DAWN.COM

“We have an agreement with Iran that we will buy gas for $15/ MMBTU. However, Turkmenistan is supplying gas to Japan at a rate of $4/ MMBTU,” he said.

Now, I am sure Japan is getting some sort of volume discount from Turkmenistan, but such a price differential seems a bit much!

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

No, It was never in hands of PMLN or anyone. Its the US / KSA vs iran.

How can these politicians put the interests of foreign countries above the interests of their own country?

That is traitorous behavior. That is the kind of thing that warrants imprisonment or even execution for treason.

 

[Slayer786]

Today Nawaz Sharief is here because of the Saudis. It was because of the Saudis that President Musharraf released him. He was always close to them. So obviously, he would never dare to anger them. Its a no brainer.

 

[VCheng]

Didn't I say the IP project is a pipe dream all along?

Pipe dream after all - DAWN.COM

Pipe dream after all

2014-02-26 11:59:54


The plan of Iranian gas powering Pakistan’s industry and fuelling its electricity generation plants from next year has been shelved, at least for now. Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, has told lawmakers that the multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline project is off the table because “international sanctions against Iran are a serious issue”. He reportedly said: “in the absence of sanctions the project can be completed within three years but the government cannot take it any further at the moment.” His statement in the National Assembly is quite the opposite of the position he and his cabinet colleagues had taken until very recently. This changed official stance on the import of gas from Iran through a pipeline to overcome energy shortages in the country also does not match a previous Foreign Office view. The Foreign Office has on several occasions declared that the sanctions (sponsored by the US and EU) on Iran do not cover the gas pipeline. Not very long ago, the PML-N government was trying to persuade Tehran to provide financing for the completion of the pipeline on Pakistan’s side and bring down the gas price agreed upon.

Why then has the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif suddenly given up its earlier stand on the project conceived more than a decade ago? When India distanced itself from the project, Islamabad was quick to criticise New Delhi for its decision apparently taken under pressure from Washington. After winning the elections, the PML-N, like its predecessor the PPP government, had pledged to build the pipeline (despite pressure from the US). Many suspect that the project — a sovereign agreement between the two countries — that is seen as crucial for the country’s economic growth has been abruptly abandoned under outside influence. There are suspicions, yet to be substantiated, which link the sudden change in Pakistan’s Syria policy and the shelving of the long-pursued gas pipeline project to recent visits here by the Saudi leadership. The U-turn has left the government in an unenviable position. Not only does it face the prospect of tensions with Iran, it has also to brace itself for questions that are raised regarding the Pakistani state’s sovereignty.




What is this "sova-raini-tee" thing the article questions at the end?

 

[Nishan_101]

Iran gas project off the table: minister - DAWN.COM

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi informed the National Assembly on Monday that the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project was now off the table.

“In the absence of international sanctions the project can be completed within three years, but the government cannot take it any further at the moment because international sanctions against Iran are a serious issue,” he said in reply to a supplementary question put by PML-N lawmaker Zahra Wadood.

Former president Asif Ali Zardari and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had announced in February last year to complete the project in 15 months.

But analysts doubted the sincerity of the present government to follow up the venture because of close ties between the PML-N leadership and Saudi Arabia which is reported to be against the project.

Pakistan will have to pay a penalty if it failed to lay the $1.3 billion pipeline within its territory by December this year, but the petroleum minister told the house that the job could be done only after the lifting of sanctions against Iran.

Pakistan has been persuading Iran to review the timeline of the project.

Pakistan should utilize its own Oil, Gas and Coal. But Pakistan should offer China and India gas pipeline from Turkmenistan via Afghanistan.

 

[jarves]

Pakistan should utilize its own Oil, Gas and Coal. But Pakistan should offer China and India gas pipeline from Turkmenistan via Afghanistan.

That TAPI pipeline is never gonna materialise because of the Afghannistan factor.

 

[Nishan_101]

That TAPI pipeline is never gonna materialise because of the Afghannistan factor.

It has condition that ANA would going to secure it. Also its the most reliable one as no NATO country has any offence with that. I am sure that there will be some news in near future.

 

[AhsanAmin]

How can these politicians put the interests of foreign countries above the interests of their own country?
That is traitorous behavior. That is the kind of thing that warrants imprisonment or even execution for treason.

It requires extreme strength of character and great diplomacy to stand against malicious pressure groups in our own country, and to take the best course of action for the country when internationsal politics in the region is extremely mechiavellian.

 

[Vinod2070]

How can these politicians put the interests of foreign countries above the interests of their own country?

That is traitorous behavior. That is the kind of thing that warrants imprisonment or even execution for treason.

You are seriously asking for the elected leaders of another country to be executed for their decisions?

The more loyal than the king, more Christian than the Pope disease seems to be spreading all around it seems.

 

[AhsanAmin]

You are seriously asking for the elected leaders of another country to be executed for their decisions?
The more loyal than the king, more Christian than the Pope disease seems to be spreading all around it seems.

I think he simply gave some outside observer's advice which might actually be a bit too harsh.

 

[Vinod2070]

I think he simply gave some outside observer's advice which might actually be a bit too harsh.

One should know where to draw the line being an outsider.

 

[flameboard]

This is pure bulls#!+. If anything the sanctions on Iran have loosened in the past couple months. India is trying to go for the same thing. Honestly they are destroying the only solution Pakistan had to all these problems. The Arab states don't respect Pakistan. But I bet this is mostly done due to pressure from them, as part of a promise from them for supply, which obviously will never be followed through on. Saudi prince that was in Pakistan recently is now in India and talking about long term commitment to India as an ally. Wake up people despite any negatives of the Iran deal, if Pakistan is to survive it needs to overcome fuel shortage.

chances of local production are also lost as there won't be an economy strong enough to start funding local production.

This also will leave Pakistan with bad relations with a country that's got lots that Pakistan could benefit from.

 

[AhsanAmin]

Wikipedia states:

In January 2010, the United States asked Pakistan to abandon the pipeline project. If canceling the project, Pakistan would receive assistance from the United States for construction of a liquefied natural gas terminal and importing electricity from Tajikistan through Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor.[26]

And

On 15 April 2012, it was reported through unnamed diplomatic sources in Islamabad that Saudi Arabia was offering to deliver an "alternative package" to Pakistan if the country abandoned its cooperation with Iran. In addition to oil the package would also include a cash loan and oil facility. The news came in connection with a visit to Pakistan by the Saudi deputy foreign minister.[30]

Anything of the sort any third nation would offer with animosity towards Iran would have long lasting adverse consequences for our nation. It is probably the same actors forcing our government to shy away from the deals that benefit our country and our region.