Source: Outlook India

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger today indicated his support for the proposed Iran-India gas pipeline which the Bush administration had objected to.

Speaking on "American Foreign Policy After Elections", organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry and Aspen Institute India here, Kissinger, answering a query on the multi-billion project, initially said he had no knowledge about every problem in the world.

Later, however, he said, "the pipeline will be a natural thing to do."

While he maintained that Iran should be persuaded into not becoming "revolutionary", he sounded more reasonable about US's relation with Tehran.

Kissinger, the winner of the 1973 Nobel peace prize and a one-time India-basher, said the American policy was to isolate Iran due to its nuclear programme.

He, however, said he had always advocated negotiation with Iran. "I expect the new administration (to be headed by Obama) to begin discussions with Iran."

To a query on the energy problem, Kissinger said the urgency of the problem had lessened due to recession. But he felt there would be competition for available energy and countries like China, India and the US should form an organisation that should address the issue of allocation.

He listed issues like the Iraq war, Iran's nuclear programme and climate change which the Obama administration would need to handle on a priority basis. The Democratic administration should create a structure and timelines to solve them, Kissinger said. PTI