ID :
128798
Sun, 06/20/2010 - 14:18
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/128798
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US envoy does not oppose Iran gas line
Islamabad, June 20, IRNA--The visiting US special regional envoy Saturday did not oppose the multi-billion Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project and left it to the people of Pakistan to make any decision in their interests.
“This is your country and you can do anything you want,” Richard Hollbroke, the U.S envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan told reporters in Islamabad when asked as to why the U.S opposes the Iran gas line.
It is the first time that top U.S official did not come up to opposition to the $7.5 billion pipeline, which is scheduled to supply gas to energy-starved Pakistan in mid-2014.
Top Pakistan and Iranian officials signed the deal in Tehran this week after 15-year of intense negotiations.
Washington has publicly opposed the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline of which India had also been a party but Tehran and Islamabad have struck a final deal with New Delhi.
When a reporter asked the U.S envoy during his joint press conference with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, he did not oppose the project but only said, “This is your country and you can do anything.”
He also highlighted U.S energy cooperation with Pakistan and said that he and the Pakistani Foreign Minister discussed the issue as now it is an issue of priority for the United States.
“No emphasis was made on the energy issue in the past. But now President Obama and Secretary Hillary Clinton brought the energy issue to the list of priorities,” Holbrooke said./end
“This is your country and you can do anything you want,” Richard Hollbroke, the U.S envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan told reporters in Islamabad when asked as to why the U.S opposes the Iran gas line.
It is the first time that top U.S official did not come up to opposition to the $7.5 billion pipeline, which is scheduled to supply gas to energy-starved Pakistan in mid-2014.
Top Pakistan and Iranian officials signed the deal in Tehran this week after 15-year of intense negotiations.
Washington has publicly opposed the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline of which India had also been a party but Tehran and Islamabad have struck a final deal with New Delhi.
When a reporter asked the U.S envoy during his joint press conference with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, he did not oppose the project but only said, “This is your country and you can do anything.”
He also highlighted U.S energy cooperation with Pakistan and said that he and the Pakistani Foreign Minister discussed the issue as now it is an issue of priority for the United States.
“No emphasis was made on the energy issue in the past. But now President Obama and Secretary Hillary Clinton brought the energy issue to the list of priorities,” Holbrooke said./end
