Pakistani PM Ignores US Warning On Iran Gas Deal

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

By SEBASTIAN ABBOT
Associated Press Writer

ISLAMABAD (AP) -- Defying a warning from Washington, Pakistan's prime minister promised Tuesday to go ahead with a plan to import natural gas from Iran even if the U.S. levies additional sanctions against the Mideast country.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's comments came two days after the U.S. special envoy to Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, cautioned Pakistan not to "overcommit" itself to the deal because it could run afoul of new sanctions against Iran being finalized by Congress.

The deal has been a constant source of tension between the two countries, with Pakistan arguing that it is vital to its ability to cope with an energy crisis and the U.S. stressing that it would undercut international pressure on Iran over its nuclear program.

Gilani said Pakistan would reconsider the deal if it violated U.N. sanctions, but the country was "not bound to follow" unilateral U.S. measures. He said media reports that quoted him as saying that Pakistan would heed Holbrooke's warning were incorrect.

The U.N. has levied four sets of sanctions against Iran for failing to suspend uranium enrichment, a process that can produce fuel for a nuclear weapon. The latest set of U.N. sanctions was approved earlier this month.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_PAKISTAN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-06-22-10-50-18

[Jefferson23]

1. They don't want to take orders from the U.S.? Oh my! n/t

[cosmicone]

2. Cut off aid to Pakistan then.

Why are we paying them 1.6 billion a year?

[Nihil]

4. Can't do that ...

... you might set a precedent ...

[ronnie624]

5. That's the 'price' for being a 'partner' in the War on Terror™. n/t

[bemildred]

3. How can you lead when nobody wants to follow? nt