After India now it's Pakistan's turn to tell Obama Admin to take a walk.

After India now it's Pakistan's turn to tell Obama Admin to take a walk.(Fars).TEHRAN (FNA)- Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar rejected the US threats of economic sanctions against the promotion of economic ties between Iran and Pakistan, and reiterated that her country would extend its cooperation with Iran in the energy sector. "All of these projects are in Pakistan's national interest and will be pursued and completed irrespective of any extraneous considerations," Rabbani Khar said in crushing response to the US threats. "As far as our bilateral relations and cooperation is concerned, we do not make it contingent on views and policies of any third country."
On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton threatened sanctions if Pakistan goes ahead with the $1.5 billion pipeline, a project which Washington views as undermining its attempts to squeeze Iran to drop its nuclear program. Pakistan says the multi-billion dollar deal is crucial for addressing its energy crisis. Under the 2010 deal, Iran would supply Pakistan with natural gas from 2014.
Rabbani Khar said Pakistan was talking to Iran about some "important projects, such as the gas pipeline, the electricity transmission projects and upgrading trade partnership".
"All these projects are in Pakistan's national interest and will be pursued and completed irrespective of any extraneous considerations."
She cautioned Washington officials that Pakistan sought a relationship with the US based on mutual respect.
It is now interesting to see that arch foes Pakistan and India are taking a similar position when it comes to the US opposition to their energy ties with Iran.
New Delhi, too, has argued that it needs Iranian crude oil to meet its energy needs, despite pressure from the US to cut back.
Pakistan has been resistant to the US pressures against its energy ties and cooperation with Iran for a variety of reasons. Firstly, Tehran and Islamabad have long had Muslim brotherly ties. Secondly, Pakistan is now in a dire energy crisis. The country relies on gas for half of its energy needs and is already facing massive shortfalls and daily blackouts which have gutted industrial production. For sure, Islamabad views the gas pipeline project with Iran as a key medium-term strategy to get itself out of a hole.
And thirdly, after US helicopters killed 24 Pakistani soldiers on the border with Afghanistan in November, Islamabad froze diplomatic relations with the US. That means no delegations of senior Washington officials are coming through Pakistan. The country's leaders remain furious the Obama administration has not officially apologized for the strike.
In this climate it seems unlikely Pakistan will do what the US wants, and Washington had better think of other plots against the Islamic Republic as Tehran and Islamabad have already proved that they would not allow any third party to harm their strong relations.Hmmmm.....The world has become a powder keg thanks to Nobel "Peace prize" winner Obama.Read the full story here.