US has no objection to Pak-Iran gas pipeline: US envoy

[A.Rafay]

SUKKUR: US Ambassador Richard Olson laid a floral wreath at the Mazar of Hazrat Sachal Sarmast at Daraza Sharif in Khairpur on Thursday.

Talking to reporters, Richard Olson said it was a pleasure visiting the shrine of the Sufi poet whose message is love and peace. He thanked the people of Sindh for the warm welcome accorded to him.

Answering a question, he said the Pak-Iran gas pipeline was a commercial deal between the two countries and the US had no concern over the matter. He said the US was also interested in resolving the energy crisis of Pakistan by building of hydro-electric plants.

Replying to another question, he said the US believes in democracy, wants to see democracy in Pakistan and will assist in strengthening of democracy. He said the US wants that the elections were held on time.

Earlier, Commissioner Sukkur Abbas Baloch, custodian of the shrine Sakhi Qabool and other dignitaries welcomed the US ambassador, consular general and others. Traditional gifts were presented to them. The ambassador and other visitors listened and danced on the tunes of Sufi songs.

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah hosted lunch for the ambassador and others at Gymkhana Club. Later, he presented them Khairpur dates and the ambassador also exchanged gifts with the CM.

Provincial ministers, MNAs and MPAs and others were present on the occasion. Meanwhile, the US ambassador visited Jacobabad and inauguratedthe $10 million Jacobabad Institute of Medical Sciences.

US has no objection to Pak-Iran gas pipeline: US envoy - thenews.com.pk

 

[haviZsultan]

This is extremely welcome if true because they have been opposing it since the beginning. This is a brilliant step. US is changing. Maybe somehow my voice is getting there, eh?

 

[Argus Panoptes]

This is extremely welcome if true because they have been opposing it since the beginning. This is a brilliant step. US is changing. Maybe somehow my voice is getting there, eh?

These words would mean more if the Ambassador also told us how this deal can be affected by the US sanctions on Iran, even if he says that Pakistan can enter into commercial transactions with Iran, since the sanctions also apply to anybody conducting business with Iran.

 

[DGMO]

I don't believe this to be true, especially without the hard quotes of Olson to back this up. The US has been strongly opposed to the IP pipeline, and that was made clear on numerous occasions. It's the administrations stated policy.

Just 2 weeks ago, Olson made his opposition clear at both the US Business Forum in Lahore, and then a few days later at the Islamabad Institute of Strategic Studies gathering:

"US Ambassador to Pakistan, Richard Olson has said that the United States continues to have reservations over the Pak-Iran gas pipeline but is willing to support any other measure to tackle the energy crisis in Pakistan"​

Geo News

The US is persuading us to go with alternative solutions (Hydro, Basha Dam) and has said that plenty of times.

I severely doubt that having stuck to a policy for so long, an about turn can be carried out so swiftly.

Something has definitely been misreported. It doesn't add up.

 

[user1]

tere vaade par jiye ham, to ye jaan jhuth jaanaa
ke khushi se mar na jaate, agar etabaar hotaa

 

[Sugarcane]

Looks like - Nahoosat of this govt. is going to end along-with government. I hope our diplomats have negotiated well on Afghan end game.

 

[muse]

This is extremely welcome if true because they have been opposing it since the beginning. This is a brilliant step. US is changing. Maybe somehow my voice is getting there, eh?

Alas, BTW, how could you possibly think it was true? HaviZ, write the US off for the next 15 to 25 years - if after that time they have come to their senses, Qadam bar chasham

 

[Gin ka Pakistan]

no bank is safe from sanctions on Iran so who is funding the project ?

 

[SpArK]

GooD news.

Let there be free flow of Gas from either sideS.

 

[muse]

GooD news.

Let there be free flow of Gas from either sideS.

I'm afraid that pretty much all it's going to be

 

[AUz]

no bank is safe from sanctions on Iran so who is funding the project ?

Chinese can fund the project...

Russians too probably...

Iran and Pakistan can go for barter too...

A lot of possibilities here...don't worry.

 

[haviZsultan]

Alas, BTW, how could you possibly think it was true? HaviZ, write the US off for the next 15 to 25 years - if after that time they have come to their senses, Qadam bar chasham

It hasn't been demanding us to stop the deal as it once was. Still about 800 people have disappeared from Pakistan and a great deal are thought to be in US jails in Afghanistan or in the US. No one knows where they are. So they have no issue siding with US over this-to avoid sanctions we may be avoiding Iran too. I have no clue what will happen but know Pakistan may remain a client state of the US for a while until good leadership emerges. The issue is compounded by US being our largest export partner with 18% of our exports going there.

This came a month ago. How silly of me to believe. After all I still trust the Americans:

US warns Pakistan of sanctions over Iran gas pipeline deal

SUKKUR: US Consul General Michael Dodman has said that the US State Department will impose sanctions on Pakistan if it carries on work on the Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline Project. He added it was a clear policy of the US because Iran had violated the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty and was continuing nuclear proliferation.



He stated this while talking to selected journalists here at a local hotel on Monday.When asked that Pakistan as an independent country can chalk out a policy which suits it to address the energy crisis, he said that the Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline Project was against the US laws so they will not support Pakistan in this regard.



He said that the US wanted to see a stronger Pakistan as well as democracy. He said that Pakistan and Afghanistan have to talk about Pakistani and Afghan Taliban, which create problems between the two countries.



Talking about business and trade ties, he said that the US respects the Pakistani laws and gives free trade access to Islamabad without any duty.



The consul general said that the State Department had been motivating the US business community to invest in Pakistan. However, he said that the US business community had shown security concerns over the law and order situation in Pakistan. He added that there was no security concern in interior Sindh and that was why the State Department was making efforts to build up the confidence of the US business community for direct investment in Sindh and in this regard the focus was on Karachi Chamber of Commerce as well as the Sindh Board of Investment.



The consul general said that there were good crops of dates and rice in Sindh and pledged that the US was ready to import these items.He said that the State Department has planned to launch hydro electric projects in Pakistan, especially in Sindh, to address the energy crisis.



The official dispelled the impression that the US was behind the political instability in Pakistan.The US diplomat said that the US believes in having good relations with Pakistan and wanted to see a strong democracy here. He said that the US was not supporting any political party in the forthcoming elections. Dodman said that the US wants real democracy not a controlled one in Pakistan.



Meanwhile, US Consul General Michael Dodman paid a visit at Kot Diji Fort in Khairpur.On the occasion, he said that the US has launched many projects of assistance for the preservation and conservation of the archeological sites in Sindh



In the meantime, a press release issued by the US spokesman said the United States Consul General Michael Dodman and US Embassy Political Counselor Jonathan Pratt visited Sukkur and surrounding areas this week to strengthen ties with the people of Sindh, experience Sindhi culture and raise awareness of many US funded projects in the areas of education, health and economic growth.



During the visit, CG Dodman and Political Counselor Pratt visited Kot Diji Fort, IBA Sukkur and met with civil society, business, media and political leaders.



Speaking to the press, CG Dodman noted, “I have been impressed by the depth of local culture and the warmth of everyone I have met. It is a source of pride that the United States is providing tens of millions of dollars to support basic education in Sindh, construct new hospitals and rebuild flood damaged schools among many other projects.” CG Dodman is dedicated to strengthening the people-to-people ties between the United States and Pakistan and is deeply committed to deepening the economic engagement between our two countries. He promises to return to upper Sindh in the near future.