Summary The work on the Iranian side is almost complete.
WASHINGTON (Dunya News) - US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland expressed serious concerns over Pak-Iran gas pipeline project that was formally inaugurated today (Monday).
“We have serious concerns if this project actually goes forward; the Iran Sanctions Act would be triggered. We have been straightforward with Pakistan on this,” Nuland said.
President Asif Ali Zardari along with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad inaugurated the multi-billion dollar pipeline in Chahbahar today.
The long-delayed pipeline is seen in Pakistan as a way of alleviating the country s chronic energy shortages.
Washington - a major donor to Pakistan - has also argued that there are other ways to ease Pakistan s energy crisis. One option favoured by the US is a plan to import gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan, which has been under discussion for years.
But power shortages have become a major and pressing issue in Pakistan, and the government insists it will not bow to pressure.
