Pakistan is determined to build gas pipeline with Iran

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Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf announced that his government is ready to go ahead with the pipeline project between Iran and Pakistan. Earlier, India was involved in this project but backed off for its political tension with Pakistan. Recently, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Khurshid M Kasuri, went on a visit to Iran. On his return, he briefed Parvez Musharraf about his visit. In that meeting, Musharraf cleared out Pakistan’s intention about building the gas pipeline. I am quoting from the report published in farsnews.com:

Pakistan will go ahead with a project to build a pipeline to carry Iranian gas even if India decides not to join it, President Pervez Musharraf has said.

Musharraf expressed the hope that India would show interest in the completion of the project, the daily Dawn reported.

"However, If India would not be a part, then also the project would be completed," the paper quoted Musharraf as saying.

In a meeting with Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri, Musharraf said his country wanted positive development on the project and hoped that pricing issue would soon be resolved among the three countries.

Musharraf said no pressure would be tolerated on the multi-billion-dollar pipeline project. The paper, however, did not specify what the pressure was.

Because of rapid industrialization, Pakistan’s demand for energy has increased. In order to meet that demand, Pakistan government is trying out all kinds of alternative energy resources. According to the report published in Daily India.com, Shaukat Aziz, Pakistan’s Prime Minister, said that his government has made a 25 year plan to meet the demand of energy in Pakistan. Iran has agreement with India and Pakistan to build a gas pipeline through which liquefied natural gas will be provided to these two countries. However, various political and economic issues have not allowed the project to be carried out.

Once again this pipeline project has shown that the political rivalry between India and Pakistan would not bring anything positive to any party. Both India and Pakistan are observing a rapid industrialization in their territories. More industry means more energy. If the governments of these two countries do not take necessary steps to ease the tension then in near future many such good projects that could have changed the lives of people living in Pakistan and India would not be carried out. Let us hope and pray for the end of this political rivalry and triumph of peace and prosperity.

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