The latest Ukraine war: Singapore’s foreign minister urges China to ‘assert influence’ over Moscow

Pakistan plans to complete a gas pipeline built by Russia despite international pressure to isolate Moscow economically, as the US ally searches for alternatives to ease the crisis. domestic energy.

Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin told the Financial Times that a deal with Russia to build the multi-billion dollar Pakistan Stream pipeline is “almost done”.

Also known as the “North-South” project, it will transport liquefied natural gas from the southern port city of Karachi to the north of Pakistan.

“We need a gas pipeline to transport LNG from south to north. That will become almost essential to us in the next two or three years,” he said. “Is there an alternative for us or we will move on with this deal. . . This is the best alternative so far, and this was clearly done before Ukraine.”

Pakistan, a Western ally during the Cold War and in the “War on Terror” after 2001, refused to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine despite public pressure from the EU, UK and other countries. other country. Prime Minister Imran Khan said he “regrets” the conflict but wants to remain neutral.

Islamabad has moved closer to Moscow in recent years, partly because authorities are looking to bolster energy security and believe it would be too costly to jeopardize relations with Russia. While Pakistan produces gas, in recent years it has also begun to import from the Gulf as energy demand has increased.

The EU also needs Russia’s energy sector, which supplies about 40% of its LNG from the country. The bloc has announced plans to cut imports by two-thirds this year.

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