America’s AfPak special representative Richard Holbrooke warned on Sunday that Islamabad should be “wary” of rushing into a gas pipeline deal with Iran as the anticipated US sanctions on Iran could then hit Pakistani companies as well.
“Pakistan is a sovereign country. It can take its own decisions, but the anticipated US sanctions on Iran could hit Pakistani companies if they continue with the (Iran) project,” Mr Holbrooke told reporters here. Mr Holbrooke said Pakistan should “wait and see” before committing anything with Iran. He said: “Yes, we understand Pakistan is in dire need of energy, and is making efforts to reduce the scarcity, but we have a new legislation that targets Iran.” This legislation targeting Iran’s energy sector is now being drafted in the US Congress.
“We caution the Pakistanis not to overcommit themselves until we know the legislation,” he added.
***
After the vote, ‘missing’Orissa MLAs resurface
Akshaya Kumar Sahoo
Bhubaneswar
High drama continued in Orissa politics in the wake of the ruling BJD walking away with all three Rajya Sabha seats in the state in last Thursday’s election despite not having the required strength.
Two Congress MLAs who went mysteriously missing a day before the vote resurfaced on Sunday, and denied skipping the vote at the BJD’s instigation. One claimed he was busy attending to his ailing wife in a Mumbai hospital, while another was found admitted to a hospital here with chest pain complaints.