Wednesday, February 9 2005 13:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Cabinet today (Feb 9, 2005) gave green signal to the Petroleum Ministry for holding talks with Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan to secure gas supplies for India through pipelines.

"It will significantly enhance oil security of the country," Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said after the Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The three pipelines to India are from Iran to India through Pakistan, another from Turkmenistan to India through Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the third from Myanmar to India through Bangladesh, he said.

Cabinet was also slated to discuss the enhancement of investment by ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) Videsh Ltd but it could not be taken up.

The cabinet approved the appointment of Indian Foreign Service officer Talmiz Ahmed as Additional Secretary (overseas operation) in Petroleum Ministry.

Ahmed was Additial Secretary (administration) in the Ministry of External Affairs.