[President] Bush said Musharraf raised the need for Pakistan to secure a natural gas supply from the region to fuel its growing economy.
"He explained to me the natural gas situation here in this country. We understand the need to get natural gas in the region, that's fine," Bush said.
The United States had previously said it was "absolutely opposed" to the natural gas pipeline project linking Iran with Pakistan and India.
Pakistan and India are negotiating with Iran on the gas price and project structure. The three nations will meet this month for the first time to finalize strategy over the 2,600-kilometre (1,600-mile) pipeline costing more than seven billion dollars.
Otherwise it makes little sense to encourage a project that gives Iran income to withstand sanctions--as if China and Russia would allow them anyway. Which, as I mentioned, is probably good for us.
I have to wonder what else regarding Iran we discussed with India and Pakistan during the President's trip.
