ISLAMABAD, 28 April 2006 — Pakistan, Iran and India are scheduled to have second round of tripartite talks on the $7.4 billion gas pipeline project here today. The project is being setup to supply natural gas to India and Pakistan from Iran.
Despite reservations from the United States, President Gen. Pervez Musharraf had in his recent telephonic talks with his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had expressed Pakistan’s resolve to complete the project. Similar views were expressed by Indian government on April 23 when Indian Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said, “the 2,100-km gas pipeline project is in the interest of three nations.”
At the talks Pakistan will be represented by Secretary Petroleum and Natural Resources Ahmad Waqar, the Indian delegation will be headed by Petroleum Secretary Srinivasan and the Iranian delegation will be led by Deputy Petroleum Minister of Iran Nejad Hasnain.
The earlier round of the three-nation talks was held in Tehran and certain technical aspects of the project were discussed. A final accord is expected to be signed in June this year.
