Musharraf Rejects US Pressure to Scrap Iran Pipeline Project

VOA News:

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has said in an interview with the Financial Times that he will go ahead with plans to build a natural gas pipeline to Iran, despite U.S. pressure to scrap the project.

In an article published Thursday, Mr. Musharraf tells the newspaper that Pakistan needs the pipeline to provide sufficient energy for industrial growth and foreign investment. He says no country can order Pakistan to abandon the pipeline.

But Mr. Musharraf also says that anyone who wants the Iran pipeline stopped should pay compensation, leaving open the possibility Washington could compensate Pakistan for giving up the plan. READ MORE

Earlier this month, the United Sates said it opposes the building of a natural gas pipeline linking Iran with Pakistan and India.