WASHINGTON: US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu voiced concern about the improvement in relations between Pakistan and Iran following the commencement of the gas pipeline project, according to a report published in The News on Friday.
“We have warned them about our red lines, both legislatively and in terms of how we cooperate with Pakistan,” the State Department official stated during a Congressional hearing on Pakistan earlier this week.
According to the journal, Washington has set an aim of preventing the pipeline project’s construction while simultaneously informing Islamabad of its red lines on Iran’s nuclear proliferation goals.
Lu, when addressing the hearing, said: “We have warned them about our red lines, both legislatively and in terms of how we work.
He added: “If they get in bed with Iran, it will be very serious for our relationship,” Lu said when Congressman Brad Schneider questioned him about the US messaging about Pakistan’s engagement with Tehran on security matters, particularly in light of mutual concerns about nuclear proliferation in Iran’s nuclear programme.
Many members of the congressional panel remained interested in Iran and its links with Pakistan, particularly the planned gas pipeline, throughout the session.
