07-27-2006, 11:47 PM
[center]<b><span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>FANTASTIC NEWS FOR INDIAN BHAI & BEHEN LOOGS</span></b>[/center] <!--emo&:clapping--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clap.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='clap.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<b>Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline plan shelved</b> <!--emo&:ind--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/india.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='india.gif' /><!--endemo-->
The official reason for the failure of the ambitious project to build the 2,600 km pipeline was the lack of an accord on the price of gas.
However, analysts say the project, first launched in 1994, has been momentarily abandoned because of the ongoing international crisis over Iran's nuclear programme.
Mottaki, who was scheduled to travel to India to announce the start of construction work on the pipeline, cancelled a few days ago without giving any explanation.
The project was supposed to end the clash between the two nuclear powers in the region, India and Pakistan, and was instead reportedly shelved because of an international crisis over Iran's atomic ambitions.
The government of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was upset with India's decision to vote within the board of governors of the UN atomic watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in favour of a motion asking Iran to halt uranium enrichment work which the international community fears is aimed at building nuclear weapons.
Ahmadinejad had previously announced that Iran's economic relations would be influenced by political relations.
India's energy needs will double by 2020 and the country was counting on the gas pipeline project which appeared to be a done deal after Pakistan's approval.
However, energy experts in Tehran claim US pressure on India contributed to halt the project.
Analyst Nersi Ghorban said he was convinced that "the American promise to ease energy accords between New Delhi and some countries in Central Asia and the participation of US companies in the construction of a gas pipeline connecting the former Soviet republics of Caucasus to India through Afghanistan" was key in the failure of negotiations between the Islamic Republic and India on the price of gas.
Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->