By Daniel Bases
LONDON (Reuters) - Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Tuesday a natural gas pipeline from Iran to Pakistan would go ahead whether or not India decides to join in $7 billion project, citing the vital need for energy security.
"All indications are that India also supports the (effort). If India doesn't join us we will still go ahead, but we would like India to join," Aziz said, responding to a question after a speeech to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
"Our petroleum people were there last week and indications are they are on track," he said.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Feb. 17 that India was committed to the project which aims to deliver gas to energy-deficient South Asia, something that has been discussed for more than a decade.
The Iranian gas would cross Pakistan in order to reach India. But progress has been slow because of hostility between India and Pakistan, and rising concerns over Iran's nuclear programme.
"Energy security is such a vital area which will determine the success or failure of a particular economy, country or region that we need to move ahead. So the project is on track," Aziz said.
Energy security in the region has risen in prominence, especially for Pakistan after the United States snubbed Islamabad when it refused to offer the sharing of civilian nuclear technology, similar to an historic deal struck with regional arch rival India.
Nuclear-armed Pakistan and India have not signed the international nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
U.S. President George W. Bush, in meetings with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf last week, said he recognised Pakistan had growing energy needs.
Bush did not say he was opposed to the pipeline, which will provide Iran a way to diversify its energy revenues and catch up with competitors in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) boom. Iran has the world's second largest natural gas reserves behind Russia.
Bush said his problem was not with the natural gas pipeline but a belief that Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons. Iran denies that intention, saying it only wants nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
