ISLAMABAD: A senior United States administration official said on Wednesday his country was trying to prevent the construction of Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline after the administration in Islamabad approved its 80-kilometer segment in February.
Originally intended to supply gas from Iran to both Pakistan and neighboring India, the IP project remained stalled for significant period due to the international sanctions targeting Iran.
The US expressed opposition to it from the outset, raising concerns that Pakistan could face financial penalties if it proceeded with it.
The issue came up for discussion during a Congressional hearing where US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu presented a testimony related to the political situation in Pakistan and answered a broad range of questions.
“I fully support the efforts by the US government to prevent this pipeline from happening,” he said in response to a query. “We are working toward that goal.”
The Petroleum Division of Pakistan’s Energy Ministry announced last month the country would build the pipeline from its border with Iran to Gwadar in the first phase.
The IP project, agreed upon by both countries, includes stipulations that could lead to financial penalties if either party fails to meet the construction deadlines or breaches the contract terms.
The US official dismissed the possibility that Pakistan’s decision to build the 80-kilometer stretch of the pipeline reflected its strategic alignment with Iran, pointing out that the two countries “traded missiles and drone strikes a few weeks ago.”
“We are tracking this planned pipeline between Iran and Pakistan,” he added. “Honestly, I don’t know where the financing for such a project would come from. I don’t think that many international donors would be interested in funding such an endeavor.”
He noted Pakistan had not sought any waiver related to the US sanctions that “would certainly result from such a project.”
“We are in consultation with the Pakistani government on this issue,” he continued. “The administration will uphold both in letter and spirit all sanction laws related to Iran.”
US working on ‘goal’ to prevent Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project — US diplomat Lu
https://arab.news/csrcg
US working on ‘goal’ to prevent Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project — US diplomat Lu
- Donald Lu tells a Congressional hearing Pakistan’s decision to build the pipeline will lead to US sanctions
- Pakistan approved construction of 80-kilometer pipeline segment last month from its border with Iran to Gwadar
Pakistan Air Force conducts ‘Exercise Golden Eagle’ to test combat readiness, agility
- The exercise follows an intense, four-day Pakistan-India military conflict in May 2025
- It focused on AI-enabled operations integrating disruptive technologies, military says
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has conducted “Exercise Golden Eagle” that successfully validated its combat readiness and operational agility through synchronized employment of the PAF’s complete combat potential, the Pakistani military said on Tuesday.
It comes months after Pakistan’s four-day military conflict with India in May, with Islamabad claiming victory in the standoff after the PAF claimed to have shot down at least six Indian fighter aircraft, including the French-made Rafale. New Delhi acknowledged some losses but did not specify a number.
The exercise was conducted on a Two-Force construct, focusing on AI-enabled, net-centric operations while integrating indigenous niche, disruptive and smart technologies in line with evolving regional security dynamics, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing.
Operating within a robust Integrated Air Defense System, friendly forces shaped the battlespace through seamless fusion of kinetic operations with cyber, space and electro-magnetic spectrum operations.
“The kinetic phase featured First-Shoot, First-Kill swing-role combat aircraft equipped with long-range BVR air-to-air missiles, extended-range stand-off weapons and precision strike capabilities, supported by Airborne Early Warning & Control platforms and Air-to-Air Refuelers,” the ISPR said in a statement.
“A key highlight of the exercise was Manned–Unmanned Teaming, with deep-reach killer drones and loitering munitions operating in a highly contested, congested and degraded environment, validating PAF’s capability to conduct high-tempo operations in modern warfare.”
In recent months, many countries have stepped up defense engagement with Pakistan, while delegations from multiple nations have proposed learning from the PAF’s multi-domain air warfare capabilities that officials say were successfully employed during the May conflict.
“The successful conduct of Exercise Golden Eagle reaffirms Pakistan Air Force’s unwavering commitment to maintaining a high state of operational preparedness, leveraging indigenous innovation and effectively countering emerging and future security challenges,” the ISPR added.
