Durand Line

Monday, May 01, 2006

No to Pak-Iran gas pipeline until Iranian-Mullahs change their stance

Iranians fail to understand that they can't deceive international bodies by offering some cut rate gas to Pakistan. As long as they maintain their pariah status, they will be abused by everyone including India and Pakistan.

Both India and Pakistan do not have money to build the pipe by themselves. They have to go to the international banks and secure a loan. With India in the camp, it would have been easier to secure such loans. Now Pakistan by itslef does not have high enough credit limit. And forget about any credit for Iranian Mullahs. They are already considered bankrupt by international banks (all thanks to Mullahs making mad statements of wiping out other countries).

India raised the raucous of gas pipe, until they got their nukie pipe.

Pakistan wants to copy India. However this ain’t right for Pakistan. India is a known blackmailer of USA.

Pakistan
should avoid at every cost, blackmailing US by using Iranian threat.



updated on March 3rd, 2007.

Indian looks to be back in the pipe-game again. There are some negotiations (http://www2.irna.com/en/news/view/line-22/0702281798181318.htm) going on to finalize the price. However Pakistan will pay $3.5 billion a year (half of $7 billion a year total) and provide transit to India for a fee of approximately $125 million a year. This still leaves Pakistan dependent on World Bank and others to meat its budget obligations. It is not too difficult to see that Pakistan may end up in pretty serious financial limbo if IMF or WB squeeze their money flow to Pakistan. This is why it is better for Pakistan to be cautious in this IPI deal.