ISLAMABAD (Hi Pakistan) -- India has no plans to import piped natural gas via Pakistan as it is concerned about the safety of the pipeline despite a thaw in bilateral relations, Oil Minister Ram Naik told Reuters on Thursday. "Peace is something which is necessary and a gas line is very explosive," Naik told Reuters in an interview. "Anyone can play with the pipeline."

Naik said that a gas pipeline could be considered after these measures succeeded in improving relations and Pakistan stops the movement of militants from its territory into held Kashmir.

"First let the bus go and come safely, let the trains go and come safely, let airplanes go and come safely. Now let the terrorist movements stop," Naik said.

"So let these steps be successful. Let the role of extremists change," he added.

A pipeline across Pakistan is the cheapest option to import gas into India, which produces only 65 million cubic meters or 2.3 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day, enough to meet barely half the domestic demand.

India is also talking to Iran to buy LNG instead of piped natural gas as it is a safer option despite the higher cost involved in cooling the gas to liquefy it, transporting it in special vessels, and converting it into gas again.