Monday, June 6 2005 20:27 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: In an apparent reference to US opposition to Iran-India gas pipeline passing through its territory, Pakistan today (Jun 6, 2005) said it was an "independent" project which should not be linked to any other issue.

Pakistan gave top priority to the gas pipeline project for supply of gas to Pakistan from Iran and Turkmenistan, and then carry it forward to India to meet its energy requirements, Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said during a meeting with visiting Indian Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar in Islamabad.

Aziz said the Iran-India gas pipeline was "an independent project, which cannot be linked to any other issue" so that Pakistan and India can focus on the four billion dollar project as well as other related issues including pipeline structure, financing and tariff, according to the state-run APP news agency.

Aziz expressed the hope that both Pakistan and India will work closely and give top priority to the completion of pipeline project as early as possible, the agency said.

The pipeline, Aziz said, will "create linkages and interdependencies for establishing an enduring relationship between the two countries."

Aiyar termed his meeting with Aziz, held in the presence of Pakistani Minister for petroleum and natural resources Amanullah Khan Jadoon and Indian High Commissioner Shiv Shankar Menon, as "encouraging and fruitful" and thanked him for his valuable input and constructive approach.

The US has opposed the pipeline project, citing Iran's nuclear programme.