Posted on 04/15/2007 1:42:45 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Islamabad, April 13, IRNA - Prime Minister of Pakistan said on Thursday that his country would welcome Russian participation in the multi-billion Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project.
"Pakistan will welcome Russian participation in India-Pakistan- Iran gas pipeline project through investment in laying the pipeline," Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told a joint news conference with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Fradkov after their talks in Islamabad.
"The IPI project is under discussion and all stakeholders are moving in the right direction and he discussed the project with Russian Prime Minister in talks," Aziz said.
"Both the sides also agreed to promote trade ties and considered to use Iran as a corridor between the two countries for this purpose," the Pakistani Prime Minister said.
To a question he said matter of Iranian nuclear issue also came under discussion and Russia was of the opinion that Iran has the right to use its nuclear program under IAEA for peaceful purposes.
He said Pakistan and Russia have common approach on the nuclear non-proliferation.
He said they also discussed regional issues including Afghanistan and relations, China, India and Iran besides ways and means to bring peace in Middle East by resolving the outstanding issues.
He said they also discussed energy cooperation between the two countries including exploring of oil, gas and coal and hydel power generation.
Responding to a question the Russian Prime Minister said he also discussed Kashmir issue with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz besides other issues with India and during the meeting Aziz briefed him about the results of his visit to India and talks with Manmohan Singh.
The Russian Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over the result of his meeting with his Pakistani counterpart and said both sides also agreed to broaden their cooperation in the areas of scientific, technological and cultural cooperation.
"Russia believes that in future both the countries need regular consultations for expanding ties with Pakistan".
He said that he has discussed with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to build cooperation to combat terrorism and stressed the need for enhanced cooperation in this regard to respond the challenges.
Fradkov stressed the need to intensify work on reactivation of Inter-Governmental Commission to further expand and cement bilateral ties.
India’s dependence on Iranian oil always created such a scenario. This is where the Indo-U.S. nuclean deal comes in to balance India’s requirement on Iran’s oil.
Do you really think this pipeline will be laid? Hasn’t India been fussy about one thing or another for over two years? India knows not to rely solely on Iranian oil and gas, especially when it transits thru Pakistan.
I hope you are correct and I agree that the nuclear deal should lessen India’s dependence. Nuclear energy is the road to energy independence.
What’s to keep the Islamo-whackjobs from blowing it up every other day?
Here’s the latest on Indo-US nuclear deal:
http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=365611&sid=NAT&ssid=
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/28273.html
The current slowing down of the nuclear deal is the result of some key members of the Bush administration trying to appease the dems on the issue of nuclear non-poliferation.
And as a it follows.....
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21561309-2703,00.html
Speaking on ‘Pakistan-China Partnership for Harmonious Relations in the 21st Century’ at the Communist Party School in Beijing on Wednesday, Aziz said that in a world marred by “turbulence and uncertainty” due to various conflicts and the threat of terrorism, extremism and sectarian violence, deviation from multilateralism compounded insecurity. ...More than ever before, there is need to promote global harmony and understanding and to build bridges between different countries and people,” Aziz said. He said terrorism was a global problem, but “attempts being made to give currency and wider acceptance to the so-called clash of civilisations” were equally dangerous.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=6944§ionid=3510204
“However New Delhi has balked at provisions Washington considers essential, including a US legal requirement that it halt nuclear cooperation if India tests another nuclear weapon, US officials have said.”
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20070421/ZNYT03/704210371/1001/TL23
“A nuclear accord hailed as the centerpiece of India’s deepening friendship with the United States appears to be in jeopardy, as Indian officials argue about whether its limitations on their nuclear activities offend the country’s sense of sovereignty.”
““123 agreement,” which could prohibit India from conducting further nuclear weapons tests, and put restrictions on whether it can reprocess spent nuclear fuel. “
“India’s atomic scientists have been among the most influential critics of the nuclear deal, consistently protesting that it would nip the country’s ability to advance its strategic program, for instance, by carrying out more nuclear tests.”
“In 1974, after India’s first nuclear tests, the United States cut off its supply of nuclear fuel for a reactor at Tarapur, in western India. Indians to this day are fond of recalling that the Americans had originally agreed to provide a lifetime supply of fuel for the reactor.
The logjam is all the more serious for the timing. The longer the negotiations drag on, the closer it gets to both United States elections in 2008 and Indian elections in 2009. There is considerable good will in this country for all things American, but in this deeply nationalistic body politic, anti-American sentiment can also be deployed as a political tool, and Mr. Singh’s government can hardly be seen to be bending too much to American pressure.”
If US insists India halt all nuclear testing and remains firm on it, then the Indo-US nuclear deal is as good as dead. And India would go ahead full steam for the pipeline deal with Iran.
You will only punish yourselves.
As for Pakistan, we can take them out in matter of weeks even if they get American help.
To some extent isn't that what the US wants? After all Colin Powell came running to save them when India was about to go into Pakistan after the Parliament attack.
It's pretty obvious you are only for this pipeline because the US is against it.
“All of a sudden you care what America wants?”
I am not the subject of this thread.
Please answer the question:
“.... isn’t that what the US wants?”
You say so.
I suppose you dont.....
Can you explain why?
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