Indian oil minister visiting Pakistan to discuss Iran gas
taxirevolution
May 30, 9:36 AM ET
ISLAMABAD (AFP) - India's petroleum minister will arrive in Islamabad
this week for talks on a proposed multi-billion dollar gas pipeline
from Iran through Pakistani territory, an official said.
Mani Shankar Aiyer would arrive on Saturday and hold talks with his
Pakistani counterpart Amanullah Khan Jadoon, Pakistani foreign office
spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani told a weekly briefing.
"It will be the first interaction between Indian and Pakistani
ministers to discuss the pipeline project," Jilani said on Monday.
A three-way discussion also involving Iranian officials would be held
later, the spokesman said without giving a date.
The 2,600-kilometre (1,612-mile) overland gas pipeline project with an
estimated cost of about 4.5 billion dollars has been strongly opposed
by the United States because of its concern about Tehran's nuclear
programme.
New Delhi has said it would proceed with the project despite
Washington's reservations.
Negotiations for the pipeline began in 1994 but made little headway
because of tensions between Pakistan and India, which have fought three
wars since gaining independence in 1947 from Britain.
But since January 2004, the two countries have been engaged in a peace
process and relations are at their best for years.
Spokesman Jilani said the talks between Pakistani and Indian oil
ministers would be of a preliminary nature.
He said both Pakistan and India "need energy for sustaining the growth
that we have achieved so far."