INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The United States said on Tuesday it does not support a Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project from going forward and cautioned about the risk
of sanctions in doing business with Tehran, Reuters reported.The Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline, known as the Peace Pipeline, opens new tab, is
a long-term project between Tehran and Islamabad, and has faced delays and funding challenges for several years
The pipeline would transport natural gas from Iran to neighboring Pakistan.Iran and Pakistan had signed a five-year trade plan in August
2023 and set a bilateral trade target at $5 billion.Pakistan&s Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik said this week that his country was seeking
a United States sanctions waiver for the gas pipeline from Iran, read the report.We always advise everyone that doing business with Iran
runs the risk of touching upon and coming in contact with our sanctions, and would advise everyone to consider that very carefully,& a
United States State Department spokesperson told reporters in a press briefing.We do not support this pipeline going forward,& the
spokesperson added, saying that Donald Lu, the State Department&s top official for South and Central Asia, had said as much to a
congressional panel last week.A few weeks ago, Pakistan and Iran engaged, opens new tab in tit-for-tat strikes when they exchanged drone and
missile strikes on militant bases on each other&s territory, Reuters reported.Washington&s relations, opens new tab with Iran have been
thorny for a long time and the United States has issued multiple rounds of sanctions on Iranian entities.Officially allies in fighting
extremism, Pakistan and the United States have had a complicated relationship, opens new tab over the years, bound by Washington&s
dependence on Pakistan to supply its troops during its long war in Afghanistan but plagued by accusations Islamabad played a double
game.Some Pakistani politicians have also accused Washington of meddling in Pakistan&s domestic politics, charges that Washington denies,
read the report.The post US says it doesn''t support Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project going forward first appeared on Ariana News.
