NEW DELHI, June 5: India is willing to consider the gas pipeline from Iran via Pakistan if Islamabad provides international security guarantees, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh said.
"We are willing to consider the Iran-India gas pipelines if Pakistan provides us with international security guarantees," the minister said in an interview, carried by "India Today" magazine in its latest issue.
Replying to a question Mr Singh said that India was willing to discuss its view with Pakistan on Kashmir.
Asked about his recent remarks that peace talks with Pakistan would not be stopped even if there is a terror attack in occupied Kashmir, he expressed,
Mr Singh said: "We are for the closest relations with Pakistan, but based on reciprocity and realism.
"When I meet Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri in August, I will ask them when they plan to stop their terrorism programme.
"There can be no compromise on terrorism. Most terrorism in India comes from across the border, though Pakistan's policy of bleeding India has not worked."
Replying to another Mr Singh said the regional outfit (Saarc) needs "blood transfusion. Instead of engaging in verbal fisticuffs with our neighbours, we should work for development. I intend to pitch for a Saarc cricket team of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh".
In response to a question about the parameters and contours of his US policy, Mr Singh said: "I had the most cordial talk with US Secretary of State Colin Powell the other day. Our relations with the US should allow us to confide in each other. There is no paradigm shift in Indo-US relations, contrary to what the previous government believed.
"We cannot be natural allies if Mr Powell grants the Major Non-NATO Ally status to Pakistan without even consulting India," he said.
Replying to a question, Mr Singh said: "The previous government had taken foreign policy from the MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) to the Prime Minister's office. That will not be done any longer. India is a changed place.
"Our foreign policy will be conducted on the basis of reciprocity, on the broad framework set down by Jawaharlal Nehru. We will not be a client state".
"We have a strong relationship with Israel, unlike the previous government which laid down a premium on the trilateral relationship with Israel and the US, we will review the intelligence cooperation between Israel and India. Our approach will be pragmatic and empirical and there will be no U-turn", he maintained.-Agencies
