Defense Minister Khawaja Asif expressed hope that obstacles in the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project would be removed and that it would be completed. He emphasized the need for regional stakeholders to unite and protect their interests amidst increasing intervention by external powers. Asif hailed Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi’s recent visit as a significant development, particularly for the pipeline project. He expressed concern over the United States’ threats of sanctions against Pakistan for doing business with Iran, criticizing the West’s hypocritical and discriminatory attitude towards Israel’s actions. Asif underscored that terrorism is a shared concern for Iran and Pakistan and vowed to jointly combat it.
He acknowledged Pakistan’s long-standing relations with Iran and explained that while the Iranian president desired a larger meeting during his visit, security concerns prevented it. The minister’s statements come in the context of a joint statement issued by the Foreign Office highlighting agreements between Iran and Pakistan on energy, including trade in electricity, power transmission lines, and the pipeline project. Despite US warnings, Pakistan is proceeding with plans to construct a segment of the pipeline and has requested a US sanctions waiver. Washington’s support is crucial for Pakistan’s negotiations with the International Monetary Fund for a bailout program. Pakistan faces a dire need for affordable gas as its own reserves dwindle and LNG imports prove costly amidst high inflation. Iran possesses the world’s second-largest gas reserves, but sanctions, political instability, and construction delays have hindered its development as an exporter.
