October 21, 2001	Sunday	Shaba'an 3, 1422

ASHKABAD, Oct 20: Answering a question by Dawn here, Steven Mann, US presidential advisor on Caspian affairs and Laura Kennedy, Ambassador of USA in Turkmenistan said unanimously, “Thinking of splitting Afghanistan into two countries will be disastrous and catastrophic”.

Stating that division of Afghanistan into two or more countries, for any reason whatsoever, is unthinkable. Both the high ranking American diplomats agreed that only viable solution for Afghanistan is a broad based, multi-ethnic government which should ensure stability and lasting peace.

“Our policy is to do what Afghan people desire”, said ambassador Kennedy.

Answering another question, Steven Mann said he does not see any promising prospects for Turkmenistan-Pakistan gas pipeline project if the relations between India and Pakistan remain as they are. “Leaving aside the war (in Afghanistan), after the dust settles, the builders of the pipeline will have to find a way to deal with the downstream problem, which is more than just the financing.”, said Mann. He was referring to the fact that commercial viability of the pipeline depends on its extension to India and under the circumstances India may not feel comfortable to let its gas supply pass through Pakistan.

Mann expressed his reservations about financing aspect of the pipeline also. He said, “What I am saying about the [Turkmenistan-Pakistan] project is what I said two years ago, which is then as now; the most difficult point, as I see, for such a pipeline is downstream and financing.”

He also added, “The economic position of Pakistan has been difficult and the project organizers have always hoped to sell gas into energy-short India but India-Pakistan relations create difficulties that discourage financing.”