PLACE your bets. Will Pakistan risk inviting American and European Union sanctions upon itself, as well as the ire of its key ally Saudi Arabia, in return for Iranian help in overcoming a crippling energy crisis?

The simple answer is no. But the times are far from simple. For one, Pakistan


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Comments (8)

Just an observer
March 15, 2013 1:14 am
President Zardari can never do any good for anyone including his mother country, unless it has something for him. A man whose greed for power and wealth has no bounds. Regarding the inauguration Pakistan/Iran gas pipe line, only one thing matters for Zardari it gives a chance to restore some shine to Pakistan People’s Party, through which he wants his son to be the next PM of the country, as the current parliament filled with his stooges term expires at midnight Saturday and new interim PM, supposed to be an impartial personality is appointed and elections are called. The decision to go ahead with the controversial pipeline is a master-stroke of opportunism by President Zardari. If he is re-elected by the new assemblies for another term by the end of my later this year, he can take credit for a daring initiative or he will leave a problem-child for his successor to rear. The legacy of a democratic dictatorship of PPP and rest of the current parliamentary gangs is nothing but a Joke. He never seems to tire from frequent appeals to the memory of his late wife and her father, in truth the ultimate curse that fell on illiterate and unfortunate people of Pakistan. Both of them were masters of oratory and their slogan “Rooti (bread), Kara (dress), Makan (shelter)” finally delivered for Rooi – hunger, for Dress – Coffin and for Makan – grave (now for many it is out of bound). The illiterate innate people of Pakistan followed his rhetoric like rates, that what the Pakistan of to-days is. Off course it suits very well to western powers, since a corrupt leader of any country is tantamount of their appointed feudal. Who has and will serve very well to USA/West interests. Look current MP’s and future candidates for the Pakistan parliament are shouting against election commission of Pakistan for asking their financial status. It is not difficult to see that it is the very people those brought Pakistan to its knees. If a person is asking to hand over the country fate for five years, every citizen let alone ECP have every write to demand every inconceivable object/document to ascertain their honesty and sincerity prior to granting the right to participate in elections to serve nation as a trustee. No one can demand any private or personal privilege or hide out or refuse to disclose for the rights to serve such a noble cause. For a trustee there is no private life on the matters of worldly belongings. Look at India, there ECI demands everything and demand anything from birth. Here in Pakistan, our thug and corrupt to the bone politicians use and want every excuse to hide their loot. Is there a country in the world MP's are given Rs 50/00 million for development at the end of their parliamentary period and govt in power held’s no local elections. It is not corruption it is robbery of worst kind. MP's suppose to be law makers not the supervisors of street cleaners. If EC for monies spent verification, they reply “you have no right for such a question”. What kind of country is Pakistan, where ministers and presidents go for huj and umra with plane load of their stooges, paid for by Zakat fund, where mothers killing their children and subsiding because of hunger, unknown in the history of mankind. Who they are trying to fool? Look at the law and order, non stop and repeatedly mass carnage of minorities, level of corruption, persistently avoidance and refusal to obey court orders, penetration of extortion at all levels across the plank of Pakistan, where police treats its citizens as hostages. The so called Islamic republic of Pakistan, where no daughter respect is safe, murders are roaming in the streets fearlessly and organs of the state send them abroad for safe environment, a country where phrase goes “do not hire a solicitor, higher a Judge”.
Cyrus Howell
March 14, 2013 3:05 pm
"If you can't beat them, you join them."
Cyrus Howell
March 14, 2013 3:04 pm
America has a network 178,000 miles of under ground pipeline carrying crude oil and refined petrol. The retail price of petrol is also determined by the amount of government taxes included in the pump price in addition to sales taxes in most countries.
cautious
March 14, 2013 2:25 pm
Author suggests that the IP is being used solely as leverage tool - while that makes sense on the surface that implies a govt that is sophisticated and understands how to deal with the American's - however there is ample evidence that this govt hasn't a clue on how to deal with America and blunders from one crisis to another. I will predict that the govt will end up with a partially completed pipeline, large debt to Iran, and exacerbated relations with the USA and it's European allies - lose/lose.
raika45
March 14, 2013 12:45 pm

If America is not happy with the Iranian deal and wants an alternative supply line, why does it not supply Pakistan direct by gas tankers from America were gas goes for 3 dollars compared with what Pakistan will pay Iran in the 16 to 18 dollars range or what Doha is pushing at some 16 dollars?America has ample gas.

Faisal Alam
March 14, 2013 10:46 am
Energy security is the new world order..we must align our national objectives to achieve this....
Musa Ali Khan
March 14, 2013 8:55 am
we hope that our policy makers will not chat us about this project while dealing with opponents using diplomatic channels
Farhan
March 14, 2013 7:22 am
What you suggest sounds too complicated and competent for our leaders to pull off. I think internal politics has more to do with this: with Nawaz Sharif likely to come up as the top contender for the next govt., the PPP has dealt a double blow of messing up his relationship with the Saudis and also triggering US sanctions on the next government. Unless Mr.Sharif walks away from the gas project, which will make him unpopular within the country.