Pak may face US sanctions

Amid Indo-Pak efforts to firm up the Indo-Iran gas pipeline project to be laid through Pakistan, US has reportedly cautioned Islamabad over the likelihood of facing sanctions if it went ahead with the $4 billion project disregarding Washington's concerns over Iranian nuclear programme.

While Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri during his meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice last week made out a strong case for Islamabad opting for the project to meet its future energy requirements, Rice reportedly asserted Washington's concerns over the project.

She told Kasuri that the project could violate Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 of US (ILSA), which forbids more than $20 million investment in Iranian oil sector. During their meeting, Rice informed Kasuri that the project was against the US laws.