ISLAMABAD: Dispelling the impression of US threat of sanctions on
Pakistan over IP gas pipeline, US Deputy Chief of Mission Richard
Hoagland Wednesday said that urge for gas is legitimate demand of
Pakistan and the US is ready to help the country.
“The US has
never threatened Pakistan with sanctions, Iran-Pakistan project is not a
matter going to be implemented within a week or a month. We are ready
to work with Pakistan on different options to help,” he told the media
at the sideline of a roundtable discussion to commemorate ‘the services
of women in law enforcement agencies’.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last week warned Pakistan of sanctions if it pursued the IP gas pipeline.
The State Department spokesperson later said Clinton had not threatened Pakistan.
Prime
Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar
had rejected the threats, saying that Pakistan will not accept any
pressure on the gas pipeline and relations with Iran.
“Sanctions
were invoked against Iran,” the American diplomat said, adding that the
US wants to help in resolving Pakistan’s energy crises.
When
asked if the US Ambassador in Islamabad has delivered any special
message to Pakistan over NATO supply, Hoagland said, “I assure there was
no message.”
Replying to a question about the expiry of US
agreements with Pakistan and Washington demands for further five-year
extension, the veteran diplomat did not directly reply to the question,
but he said that the issue will be discussed during the upcoming visit
to Pakistan by Gen. James Mattis. He said that dates for the visit of
Gen Mattis have not yet been announced.
He said the issues will be discussed during Gen. Mattis meeting with Pakistan army chief General Ishfaq Parvez Kayani.
Visits
of the US special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman as
well as Gen. Mattis were postponed after Islamabad sought a delay due to
parliamentary review of future relationship with the US.
On
policy toward Afghanistan, the US diplomat said that in fact the US and
Pakistan are on same page. Like Pakistan, his country is also supporting
Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process in Afghanistan, the
deputy chief said. Online
