The Hindu : Convince India of pipeline viability, Pak. tells Iran

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 23, 2002

International

International

Convince India of pipeline viability, Pak. tells Iran

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD Dec. 22 . The Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, has urged Iran to draw India into a dialogue and convince it about the viability and safety of the proposed Iran-India gas pipeline via the land route of Pakistan.

In an interview to Iran's official news agency, IRNA, on the eve of the three-day visit of the Iranian President, Syed Mohammad Khatami, to Pakistan, Gen. Musharraf has argued that it was for Iran to convince New Delhi on the pipeline. "I think, it is only Iran that can convince the country to push through with the gas pipeline".

He felt that the mega pipeline project was viable and should materialise for the sake of the economic progress of the three countries of the region.

Welcoming his Iranian counterpart's visit, Gen. Musharraf said that Islamabad and Teheran need to coordinate efforts on the political and economic fronts, and Mr. Khatami's visit would help both sides to improve their coordination on issues of mutual interest.

To a question on Teheran-Islamabad commercial relations, he said, a great deal needs to be done on the trade front. Keeping in view the deep historical, cultural and religious relations, as well as the geographical linkages of the two countries, their economic interaction left much to be desired.

"Pakistan is keen on enhancing trade and commercial relations and during my last meeting with President Khatami, we discussed enhancement of economic interaction", he told the agency.

Gen. Musharraf said that Pakistan increased its oil imports from Iran from less than $100 million to $500 million. However, Iran had not reciprocated. "We talk about exports of our rice and wheat, so we need to resolve these things. I believe these can be resolved amicably".

He expected President Khatami's visit to be of immense help to develop a consensus on regional issues, especially on Afghanistan and Pakistan's concerns with respect to India. "There is a need for Iran's understanding of our sensitivities towards India. So, I feel this is the area where Iran needs to clearly understand our very acute sensitivities vis-a-vis India so that in its bilateral relations with New Delhi, this concern is kept in the forefront", he said.

Laying emphasis on coordination between the two sides on regional issues in particular, Gen. Musharraf said: "our efforts vis-a-vis Afghanistan's reconstruction should be coordinated. I don't see any clash in our perceptions as to what is happening in Afghanistan.

``We must not develop a competitive behaviour towards Afghanistan and economic benefits of reconstruction of the war-ravaged country can be shared very well between Iran and Pakistan." he told the agency.

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