Iran-Pak gas pipeline to be extended to China despite US opposition

The Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline may be stretched and connected to western China as Islamabad and Beijing have made it part of the planned economic corridor, even while US stands in strong opposition to the project.

According to The Express Tribune, Pakistani and Chinese officials will discuss the laying of the gas pipeline from Gwadar to western China in a meeting on August 26 and will also consider a proposal about constructing an oil pipeline between the two countries.

As part of the economic corridor, Gwadar Port will be connected through road and rail links to China, which will help improve trade between the two countries, the report said.

The report added that earlier, India was actively involved in the pipeline project, but made a withdrawal following a civil nuclear energy agreement with the US.

The US is putting pressure on Pakistan to shelve the IP pipeline and rather focus on the TAPI gas pipeline, which will start from Turkmenistan and reach India through war-torn Afghanistan and Pakistan, the report further said.