18 April 2005	Monday	08 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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NEW DELHI, April 17: The much discussed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline has given way to its reference now coming usually in the company of its rivals such as the Qatar and Turkmenistan alternatives, according to indications available from the India-Pakistan summit talks on Sunday.

Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran told a news conference that the project was discussed in the context of India’s quest for wider transit rights through Pakistan to boost business prospects with Central Asia and the Gulf.

“In this context the pipeline was also mentioned. It was agreed that this was a worthwhile project to pursue,” Mr Saran said.

“In this context it was agreed that we would remain in touch with one another and engage in further discussions in order to realize this project.”

Asked if ‘worthwhile’ was the right word for the pipeline once seen as an all important project, Indian sources admitted that both countries were under severe pressure from the US to reject the deal with Iran.

“Pakistan has been under more pressure than India,” one senior official said.

President Gen. Pervez Musharraf in an interview telecast last week mentioned the project but only in tandem with the other two options.

Mr Shyam Saran was asked to elaborate on the Iran-India pipeline as it was perceived in the summit talks. He said: “Well, President Musharraf mentioned that the requirements of energy of Pakistan as well as India are such that pipeline from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan, Pakistan, India or from Iran, Pakistan, India and perhaps other possible pipelines as part and parcel of the economic development of both India and Pakistan as of the region.

“This is something that we ought to be thinking about, we ought to be discussing how to cooperate with each other. So, it was a broad discussion. At this level you do not go into negotiating details of these projects. But, overall as I mentioned to you, it was agreed that these are projects which are worth pursuing and that we should remain engaged concerning them.”