WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- A U.S. State Department official said Islamabad's decision to move ahead with a natural gas pipeline from Iran is "a bad idea."
Pakistan is coping with a natural gas shortage by pursuing two pipeline options. Victoria Nuland, a spokeswoman for the State Department, said one of those options, a gas pipeline from Iran's South Pars gas field, wasn't a good decision for Islamabad.
"We think it's a bad idea and we're continuing to talk to Pakistan about that," she said.
Islamabad has moved closer to the Iranian project despite Washington's objections. Authorities in the Pakistani government suggested land surveys were under way for their part of the pipeline.
Washington favors the rival Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India natural gas pipeline, which has the backing of the Asian Development Bank. Delegates from all sides had made progress on the pricing terms for TAPI, though concerns remain.
Nuland, without providing specifics, said Washington was working on helping Islamabad with energy security.
"We are working with Pakistan as we're working with countries around the world on other ways to meet their energy needs," she said.
