It’s official now, perhaps US energy secretary was in India to convey mainly this message.
With American opposition, consider this project as dead.
I think India has to pay some price for nuclear deal…although Nuclear energy is a better option but for fulfilling immediate energy requirement this gas pipeline was the best, besides India is facing hard competition with bigger nations like China for securing oil and gas fields in other countries.
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Thursday, March 22, 2007 (New Delhi):
The United States has informed the Indian government that it is opposed to the building of a pipeline to carry gas from Iran to India via Pakistan, US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said.
“During my trip, I have made it clear at the highest levels of the Indian government that the US opposes the development of the Iranian pipeline to India,” he said.
Bodman, in India on a three-day official visit, told Dow Jones Newswires in an interview that the US opposition to the project was linked to concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme.
Asked why the US is opposed to the pipeline, Bodman said, “We believe that Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, and anything that will support that endeavour is something that we oppose.”
India favours diplomatic efforts to resolve the standoff on Iran’s nuclear programme.
Iran, India and Pakistan are engaged in negotiations to build a pipeline that will supply Iranian gas to Pakistan and India to meet their rapidly growing energy needs.
The proposed 2,600-km pipeline will give Iran an additional outlet for its vast natural gas reserves, estimated to be about 812 trillion cubic feet.
The pipeline will cost an estimated eight billion dollars.