Iran Pak discuss gas-pipeline project amid US pressure
Zardari, Ahmadinejad discuss gas project amid US pressure
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Zardari
and Ahmadinejad held one-on-one and delegation-level talks shortly
after the Iranian leader arrived in Islamabad for bilateral talks and a
trilateral summit with Afghanistan.
Zardari
and Ahmadinejad on Thursday discussed progress on the multi-billion
dollar Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project that is aimed at helping
Islamabad overcome an energy shortfall due to rapidly growing domestic
and industrial needs, officials said. They did not give details.
The
officials said the talks between Zardari and Ahmadinejad focussed on
political and economic cooperation and measures to strengthen bilateral
ties.
The
two leaders initially held one-on-one talks and were later joined by
their respective delegations for comprehensive talks covering all areas
of cooperation, the officials said.
Pakistan has said it is committed to the early implementation of the troubled gas pipeline project with Iran.
Questions
have been raised about the viability of the project following sanctions
imposed on Iran by Western powers over its nuclear programme.
The US has mounted pressure on Pakistan not to go ahead with the gas pipeline project.
Ahmadinejad arrived in Islamabad shortly after Afghan President Hamid Karzai flew in with a high-level delegation.
Karzai held talks with Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
The
Presidents of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan will hold two sessions as
part of their trilateral summit, one Thursday evening and another on
Friday.
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