WASHINGTON: Pakistan may suffer sanctions if it enters the multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline project with Iran, the United States has said.
Pakistan had better not sign agreement with Tehran, Victoria Nuland, State Department spokesperson, said during a media briefing. She said Washington wanted to help Pakistan overcome its energy crisis.
However, Pakistan has rejected any threat as its Foreign Office spokesman said in a media briefing on Thursday that despite US reservations, Pakistan was committed to the gas pipeline project with Iran as this was in the interest of the country, adding that it is purely a bilateral commercial and economic venture and no one should have any concerns about it.
The US spokesperson further said innocent people were being killed in deadly bombings in Pakistan with reference to killing of over 90 people in Saturday’s Quetta blast.
Victoria Nuland said John Kerry had talked to Pakistani leadership over action against terrorists. Washington wanted to expedite campaign against terrorism in collaboration with Islamabad, she said.
DND
