The Biden administration has indicated that it will not oppose Pakistan’sdecision to purchase discounted Russian crude oil, after Pakistan placedits first order for the oil last week.
While the United States has not signed a Washington-backed price-cap onRussian petroleum products, it has left the door open for such purchasessince it placed restrictions on Russian oil after Moscow invaded Ukrainelast year.
The US State Department spokesperson stated that each country can make itsown sovereign decisions about its energy supply, but also warned about theneed to ensure that Russian energy markets are not benefiting PresidentPutin’s war machine.
Pakistan’s purchase gives Russia a new outlet as it redirects oil fromwestern markets due to restrictions. Additionally, the US assured Islamabadthat any assets or weaponry left behind in Afghanistan were no longerusable, in response to a question about Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistanacquiring weapons.
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Earlier, State Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik had confirmed thatPakistan would start importing crude oil from Russia from March this yearin forehand preparations to meet energy demands in summer season.
His statement comes as the annual Pakistan-Russia IntergovernmentalCommission session concluded today after three-days of talks between thevisiting Russian delegations and Pakistani officials. Russian EnergyMinister Nikolay Shulginov led the Russian delegation to Pakistan monthsafter the officials of the South Asian country visited Moscow for talks onimport of oil and gas.
