Iran gas not to affect Indo-US nuclear deal: Boucher

Kolkata, Aug 4 (UNI) US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard A Boucher today said Iran issue would not be a stumbling block for a smooth passage of the Indo-US nuclear deal in the American Senate.

'' Our nuclear deal is not dependant on Iran. India is making a rational and strategic calculation for importing piped gas from Iran in its interest. We will not like to change that, '' he said while addressing a press conference at the Amercian Center here.

Mr Boucher, who was in the city on a two-day visit, said the nuclear deal between the two countries was for mutual interests, and it would be cleared by the Senate soon.

He was here in connection with inauguration of the renovated foreign commercial service office of the US department of commerce and a programme at the Indian Chamber of Commerce. His schedule also included a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and an interactive session with students of St Xaviers College.

To a question on Pak-aided terrorist activities against India, he said America was serious about fighting the threat equally with India, Pakistan or Bangladesh.

The US Assistant Secretary of State said Pakistan had already set a national policy to counter terrorism, and recognising the threat, President Pervez Musharraf had made it clear that he did not want such activities to continue in his territory.

''There are still lot of things to do...we are serious about it and we will continue to work with Pakistan against terrorism as we will do with India, Bangladesh or any other country,'' he said.

Mr Boucher made it clear that Dawood Ibrahim was a proclaimed offender for masterminding the Mumbai blasts in 1993 and assured that the US would ensure that he was brought to book.

''Ibrahim is on the list. We do think that he was responsible for the previous blasts. We will closely work together to see that he is brought to book,'' he said.

Welcoming the Nepal Maoists joining the democratic stream, Mr Boucher said the US would extend cooperation in the process. He, however, pointed out that it was up to the political parties of that country to work out their model of democracy.

To another question, the US Assistant Secretary recognised that the Indo-Bangla porous border was a problem and said both countries needed to build up security.

He said the US was concerned over the small arms proliferation from China which was reaching out to various separatist groups world over and his country was serious about the ways to stop it.

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