Wednesday, August 3 2005 20:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Allaying Opposition apprehensions, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Aug 3, 2005) said the US had "no role" in the proposed pipeline to supply gas from Iran to India via Pakistan.

"We have explicitly stated that it is something among Iran, Pakistan and India and the US has no role in it," he told the Lok Sabha while replying to a discussion on his recent visit to Washington.

Observing that the pipeline issue had not cropped up anywhere during his discussions, the Prime Minister recalled that he had told the Washington Post that while India needed the gas, there were certain "uncertainties" about it.

The pipeline issue was in "preliminary stages" of discussions and work was on with regard to its financing as also its feasibility, Singh said.

Efforts, he said, would be made to resolve them.

Observing that India has historical ties with Iran, he said the country has the second largest Shia Muslim community that could work as a bridge to reconcile differences.

Replying to a question on reported US Opposition to the gas pipeline, the Prime Minister said during his US visit, he stood by the national policies as approved by Parliament. "I, by and large, carried out the mandate given to me," he said.