Nawaz stands firm of Iran gas pipeline and criticizes American drone strikes

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Despite increasing pressure from the United States, Pakistan’s leadership seems determined to build a gas pipeline from Iran. Pakistani premier Mian Nawaz Sharif reiterated on Thursday that his country does not have a lot of options and it cannot delay any possibilities of importing gas.

Nawaz has come to New York with a well thought of plan and stands solid on crucial matters. He said Iran gas pipeline is very important for his country because Pakistan’s economy is suffering due to lack of energy resources. He claims that the pipeline project will not trigger U.S. sanctions.

“Pakistan needs gas very badly. We have to run our power plants. We need gas for them. There is an acute shortage of gas in Pakistan, so we have to import gas from somewhere,” he said.

Moreover, the Wall Street Journal has quoted Nawaz saying that he will raise concerns over unmanned drone strikes in Pakistan and will clearly state his stance in his speech at the United Nations on Friday. Nawaz maintains that his government is planning to conduct peace talks with militant groups in Pakistan whereas the American drone strikes contradict with his strategy of reinstating peace in the region.

The Pakistani premier said that the peace talks are aimed at convincing the outlawed group of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to recognize Pakistan’s Constitution. He said his government is dealing with extremely sensitive matters which need proper planning and strategy implementation, whereas the interference from the U.S. or any other government can make all their efforts go in vain.

“The more the drones, the more the terrorists get multiplied. You kill one man, his sons, his father, his brothers, they all become terrorists. So this is something that is not helping at all… Once the talks start, then of course, we consider them (drones) as something that has the ability to break the talks, which must be avoided at all costs,” said Nawaz.