| Bush says no objection to iranian gas pipeline Original Source Link: (May no longer be active) http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/afx/2006/03/05/afx2571001.htmlhttp://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/afx/2006/03/05/afx2571001.html
AFX News Limited Bush says no objections to Iranian gas pipeline to Pakistan, India 03.05.2006, 05:48 AM
ISLAMABAD (AFX) - US President George W. Bush said he has no objections to a proposed pipeline to supply Iranian natural gas to India and Pakistan, signalling a change in Washington's position on the controversial project.
However, he indicated that the US is unlikely to agree a civilian nuclear deal with Pakistan like it had with India.
'Our beef with Iran is not the pipeline, our beef with Iran is in fact they want to develop a nuclear weapon and I believe a nuclear weapon in the hands of the Iranians will be very dangerous for all of us,' Bush told a joint news conference with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf yesterday.
Bush said Musharraf raised the need for Pakistan to secure a natural gas supply from the region to fuel its growing economy.
'He explained to me the natural gas situation here in this country. We understand the need to get natural gas in the region, that's fine,' Bush said.
The US had previously said it was 'absolutely opposed' to the natural gas pipeline project linking Iran with Pakistan and India.
Pakistan and India are negotiating with Iran on the gas price and project structure. The three nations will meet this month for the first time to finalize strategy over the 2,600-kilometre pipeline costing more than 7 bln usd.
Meanwhile, Bush suggested that a US-Indian civilian nuclear deal, which he sealed with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh before his trip to Islamabad, is unlikely to be replicated for Pakistan.
Musharraf had raised the possibility of the US forging a similar deal with Pakistan during their talks.
'We discussed the civilian nuclear program and I explained to him that Pakistan and India are different countries with different needs and different histories,' Bush said.
'So as we proceed forward, our strategies will take into effect those well-known differences,' he said.
Bush said the US will help work to meet the energy needs of Pakistan, a frontline friend in its global 'war on terror'.
The US leader said Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman will arrive in Islamabad soon to hold discussions on the joint energy program.
Bush and Musharraf agreed to hold a high-level energy meeting to inaugurate a working group to 'explore ways to meet Pakistan's growing energy needs and strengthen its energy security,' a joint statement said after their talks.
They agreed to 'work together to develop public and private collaboration on a broad range of energy sources.'
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