Although it recognises India's 'enormous' energy needs, the United States has warned that Iran is not a reliable long-term supplier of fuel. Instead, America advised India to turn its attention to other Central Asia nations.

"India has enormous energy needs and is right to look out into the world to see how it can secure its energy future," Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary of State, said on Friday during a presentation to the Coalition for Partnership with India, which is being coordinated by the US Chamber of Commerce.

"The only point we have been making is that we don't believe that Iran is a reliable partner in the long term. So our advice to our friends in India has been you really can't count on the Iranians," he said, when asked about the India-Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline and whether it will have any impact on the Indo-US ties.

To meet its energy needs, Burns said, "There are many other places India could look toward (like) Kazakasthan or Turkmenistan. It could also consider clean coal technology and certainly the growing nuclear power sector."

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