NEW DELHI, 24 April 2006 — Dispelling apprehensions of New Delhi giving in to pressure from the United States against the 2,100-km gas pipeline, India, Iran and Pakistan are likely to ink the $7 billion deal in June.
Besides, of late, India has repeatedly voiced its support for solving the Iran nuclear controversy through dialogue and discussion. On his way to Germany yesterday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told journalists accompanying him: “Our position has been that whatever problem has arisen, should be resolved through pursuit of dialogue and discussions.” Regarding the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline project, Manmohan said: “We need that gas.
And it is in the interest of all the three countries to see that this project goes on.” Just ahead of talks in Doha with his Iranian and Pakistani counterparts, Indian Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora said: “The pipeline project is in the interest of all the three nations. We are pursuing the matter sincerely.” On whether there was any pressure from US against the project, Deora told a newspaper that India would not buckle to pressure even from the United States.
Regarding the pursuit of talks on the project, Deora drew attention to Indian Petroleum Secretary M.S. Srinivasan’s recent visit to Tehran and Pakistan oil minister’s Delhi visit.
