February 5, 2003	Wednesday	Zul Hijjah 3,1423

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NEW DELHI, Feb 4: India has not foreclosed its options for a gas pipeline from Iran running through Pakistan, but New Delhi is concerned about the political situation in Pakistan, junior minister for foreign affairs Dignivay Singh said on Monday.

He told rediff.com that India was keener on a road project that would link the Iranian port of Chahbahar to Central Asia and eventually to Afghanistan and even Russia. “If this project comes through we can go to Central Asia without entering Pakistan.”

Today, Mr Singh said: “It is difficult to go to Afghanistan if one does not go via Pakistan. Recently when we gave a million tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan under its reconstruction drive, Pakistan objected to the use of its territory.”

On the India-Iran pipeline project, Mr Singh said it had not shelved although “we are cautious about it...The pipeline has to pass through Pakistan and we have our national security apprehensions. For India, it’s not merely a political decision, it’s an economic decision too.

“After all, the situation in Pakistan is not good. If something happens tomorrow, who will take the responsibility of the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline? Once we become dependent on Iranian gas, who will take responsibility if the supply is disturbed?” he asked.