14 June 2005

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party  of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

On The Pakistan-Iran-India Gas Pipeline

As reports come in of India, Iran and Pakistan setting up a joint working group to take forward the pipeline project to bring Iranian gas to India, the United States is stepping up its pressure to scuttle the project.  The US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, has conveyed to the Pakistani Foreign Minister that the project could violate the Iran and Libya sanctions Act.  This blatant  pressure by the United States should be rejected by both India and Pakistan. 

The Prime Minister, during his visit to Washington next month, must convey India’s stand that it will not give up this project due to American pressure.