Pakistan and Russia have finalized a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on conducting feasibility study for implementation of $10 billion undersea gas pipeline project, Foreign Office said on Thursday. Responding to media queries during weekly briefing, Spokesperson Foreign Office Dr Mohammad Faisal said that the purpose of MoU is to assist in providing support for the realization of the project. "Based on the results of the feasibility study, the two sides will take a decision for the future of the project," he added.
The proposal for construction of undersea gas pipeline has been under consideration since 2017, he said, adding that the proposal involves Pakistan, Iran, Russia and India.
He, however, clarified that the proposed undersea gas pipeline project is a separate project and it has nothing to do with the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project. Regarding the Pak-Russia energy project, he said that Pakistan and Russia are strong partners in the field of energy. The two countries have concluded various proposals in the energy sector including construction of North-South Gas Pipeline, import of LNG from Russia, installation of air mix plant, and establishing a 600MW combined cycle power plant etc, he added.
He further said that Pakistan and Russia are actively working towards enhancement and consolidation of their bilateral ties. About Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Qingdao, China, he said that President Mamnoon Hussain will lead Pakistan delegation to the event on June 09-10, 2018.
The President will also meet his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, he said, adding that the President will also have sideline meetings with the leadership of SCO member countries. However, he said that no such meeting is envisaged with Indian leadership on the sidelines of the SCO Summit.
About the World Bank's proposal reportedly asking Pakistan to give up its demands of setting up the Court of Arbitration, and instead accept Indian proposal of a neutral expert on construction of controversial dams, he said that there is no doubt that it is World Bank's responsibility to empanel the Court of Arbitration, as envisaged in the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). Pakistan would, however, continue to agitate this issue with the Bank, he added.
For Pakistan, he asserted that water is its jugular vein, adding Pakistan is largely an agro-based economy. On Pakistan-India relations, he said that Pakistan has maintained its consistent position that only through uninterrupted and uninterruptible dialogue, the issues can be resolved between the two countries. "It is India that has imposed conditionalities on the dialogue process," he said.
Commenting on India's testing of the long-range ballistic missile Agni-5, Dr Faisal said that Indian arms buildup has pushed the region into a vicious arms race and its hegemonic designs are a cause of serious concern not only for Pakistan but also for the entire region. "Indian thirst for becoming a regional hegemony is casting a dark shadow on South Asia," he said. However, he made it clear that Pakistan forces are ready to defend its borders against any threat.
Responding to a BJP leader's threatening statements, he said Pakistan wants to live in peace with all its neighbors in the region. "However if aggression is thrust upon us, it would be duly punished...Pakistan is ready to defend its borders. Any Indian misadventure shall be given a befitting response. Let there be no mistake. We expect maturity from India in this regard," he added.
To India's objection on the new Gilgit-Baltistan Order, he said that the objections are preposterous and without any legal basis. "From this podium, I challenge India to let the United Nations carry out a free and fair plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir, as envisaged in the UNSC Resolutions, so that the Kashmiris are able to decide their future as per their aspirations," he said.
He said that Pakistan is confident that Jammu and Kashmir would side with Pakistan. "This is what generates fear in the hearts of the Indian establishment. The Kashmiris would never change their principled position despite grave human rights violations being perpetrated by the Indian occupation forces," he added.
About the death of a Chinese engineer Yan Peng in its Embassy in Islamabad, who was working as the project supervisor for the Chinese Embassy and was found dead on 3rd June, 2018, the spokesman said that possible cause of his death appears to be a heart disease. The spokesperson also rejected Afghanistan's objection on FATA merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying that it is internal matter of Pakistan.
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