India's foreign policy tilting towards US: CPM

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, Jun 2: The CPI(M) has attacked the UPA government's decision to join the US-sponsored Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) pipeline project, saying it illustrates the ''tilt'' of India's foreign policy towards America.

''The TAP project is uncertain and illusory. There are serious doubts about the availability of gas in the long-run for such a project... as Turkmenistan has no exportable surplus of gas,'' a hard-hitting editorial in the forthcoming issue of 'People's Democracy', a party mouthpiece says.

''And yet the government is giving priority to the US strategic interests and sidelining the Iran pipeline which is more suited for our energy needs,'' it observes.

This, it points out, has become clear from the note submitted by the Foreign Secretary to the petroleum ministry which says ''the TAP project would be in tune with the latest US strategic thinking for the region''.

The CPI(M), a key constituent of the ruling coalition, maintains that the Bush Administration with its close links with the ''petro-dollar lobby'' will not countenance the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) pipeline project, which it sees as a ''threat to its energy and geo-political interests.'' The US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who has been vocal in her opposition to the IPI project, has close links with US oil giant Chevron, the editorial claims.

''Yet, the Manmohan Singh government, to maintain its pretence, keeps talking about pursuing the IPI pipeline project. So does Pakistan President Pervez Musharaf who is under tremendous prssure from the Americans,'' it adds.

Moreover, it says, there is also the suspicion that many vested political interests would be best served if India continues to depend on the market for purchase of oil rather than address its energy security by firming up pipeline projects.

''This is because spot purchase of oil facilitates lucrative kickbacks. Therefore, the 'enlightened vested interests' of the country are best served if we continue to buy oil from American oil majors,'' the editorial says.

UNI

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