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Pipeline: Pak to give new guarantees
June 07, 2004 19:46 IST
Pakistan on Monday said that it was ready to provide international guarantees afresh to India to lay the gas pipeline from Iran to Gujarat via its territory provided there were no "extraneous conditionalities" attached to it.
"These guarantees have been given in the past and we are ready to give them again afresh. There is no problem. This is not an obstacle and a hurdle," foreign office spokesman Masood Khan told a media briefing.
He was reacting to External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh's reported remarks that India would consider the pipeline project if Pakistan provides guarantees.
Khan said such a project would boost relations and cooperation between India, Iran, Pakistan and Central Asian Republics. "There is a collective benefit involvement here and we must pursue it."
"I think we can do business," he added.
For over two years Pakistan has been pursuing two gasline projects -- a pipeline project from Iran to India through Pakistan and the other through Central Asia to India.