Pakistan, Iran, India to hold trilateral talks on gas project

Islamabad and Tehran have agreed that all future talks on the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project would be held on a trilateral basis and India would be involved in all ministerial or secretary level talks on the project.

The decision was taken here Wednesday at a preliminary meeting of the oil and gas ministers of the two countries, local newspaper Dawn reported Thursday.

Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh arrived here Wednesday afternoon and held a brief discussions with his Pakistani counterpart Amanullah Khan Jadoon.

The two ministers told journalists after their meeting that they had not discussed the issue of gas price because it was considered premature. The three countries have not yet held a joint meeting on the project.

Pakistan and Iran will sign a memorandum of understanding under which Iranian officials will attend a meeting of the Pakistan- India working group on gas pipeline comprising petroleum secretaries of the two countries in New Delhi in August.

The three sides are expected to exchange information with regard to the financial, technical, commercial and legal issues.

India has shown interest to participate in three proposed gas pipelines from Turkmenistan, Iran and Qatar for multiplying supplies.

Pakistan and India have agreed that all the three projects will have to be completed as energy needs grow with economic growth in both countries.

Source: Xinhua