India, Iran chart new roadmap

Iranian President Mohammed Khatami also raised the question of the overland pipeline via Pakistan with PM Vajpayee, but was told that the security of such a project would be unreliable because of Pakistan8217;s lack of control over extremist elements.

8216;8216;We have agreed to mutually acceptable, stable and secure arrangements for the supply of gas from Iran to India,8217;8217; Vajpayee said at the press conference this evening, adding: 8216;8216;Iran has gas, we need gas, but there are some obstacles in between. We are trying to remove them.8217;8217;

But Khatami also gently warned that India-Iran cooperation was not 8216;8216;aimed at any third country,8217;8217; clearly also a reference to Pakistan.

Under the circumstances, Iran was happy to agree to New Delhi8217;s initiatives to build an oil reservoir with German collaboration in Iranian offshore zones, the outright sale of LNG, as well as upgrade the Chahbahar port so that Central Asian oil and gas could find an alternative route to Pakistan.

But it is the ambitious initiatives to create a network of rail links and road projects that are the highlight of Khatami8217;s trip. The Chahbahar port will be upgraded by Iran, which will also build the Chahbahar-Melak road upto the Afghan border.