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| Afghanistan/South Asia | |
| US reminds India of reservations on gas pipeline | |
| 2005-05-05 | |
NEW DELHI: The United States has reminded India about its concerns over Iran, as New Delhi prepares for talks on a $4 billion pipeline to bring Iranian gas to South Asia, Indian Oil Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said on Thursday. Aiyar said that New Delhi had "noted" Washington's concerns and hoped that the US would resolve its concerns over Iran by the time India negotiated a deal with Tehran.
Washington's ambassador to New Delhi David Mulford conveyed US concerns to him about a month ago, he said. "I think the United States is well aware of our energy security requirements," said Aiyar. He said, "So long as we are sensitive to each other I don't think it will be an insurmountable obstacle either to their concerns or our being able to take the measures required for our security." He added, "We hope they can resolve their issues with Iran by the time we can resolve contractual issues." Aiyar had said on Wednesday that he planned to hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart on the gas pipeline that would help meet India's huge energy demand. Indian officials told Indian Express on Thursday that the multi-billion dollar gas pipeline deal between India and Iran came under the scanner at a recent meeting between the Indian oil minister and the US ambassador to India. Indian officials said that US Ambassador David Mulford had conveyed Washington's reservations about the energy deal during the meeting two weeks ago. The paper claimed that although Mulford said he appreciated New Delhi's interest in the pipeline, "He felt it was his duty to highlight US concerns about Iran." He had said that Washington was facing serious difficulties with Iran on its nuclear weapons programme, with no immediate solution in sight to ending the impasse. Washington's concerns were likely to be raised again when US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visits India on March 16, added the paper. A US embassy official confirmed that the issue had been raised during Mulford's meeting with Mani Shankar Aiyar but said it was part of a "broad range of energy discussions." "There was no special policy statement on the pipeline, it was a small part of discussions," he said, adding however Washington's concerns regarding Tehran were "well known". | |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 I think we should support the pipeline deal with one addition. The Indian gov has to send at least 10k ''peace keeping forces'' cough occupation forces to work the northwestern Iran area and mountaneous area for a time frame of 5+ years. South west may freak the Paks out too much besides its mostly desert anyway good M1A1 country. At which point they can protect and build the pipeline. As soon as we switch from conquer to occupation of Iran in phase 3 of the war on terror. The reality of the world is money makes it turn the right promisses to the right poeple and a nuetral fence setter is a powerfull ally. Not to mention our other concern of China would be negated if the source Iran was turned into a new ally like Iraq. Two birds one stone |
| Posted by: C-Low 2005-05-05 20:55 |