The Hindu : Front Page : Deora: ready to talk to Iran, Pakistan on pipeline project

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 31, 2010
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Deora: ready to talk to Iran, Pakistan on pipeline project

“We are going to approach the issue with an open mind”

Address security concerns of India on the issue
“We have proposed trilateral talks and are awaiting Iran's response”

CANCUN (MEXICO): India on Tuesday announced its readiness to hold talks with both Pakistan and Iran on putting back on rail the $8-billion Iran-Pakistan-India peace pipeline project provided both the nations were ready to address the security concerns of New Delhi on the issue.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora, who is attending the 12th International Energy Forum meeting which began here, did not rule out the possibility of his holding talks with his Iranian and Pakistani counterparts. “I am ready to hold talks with both Iran and Pakistan representatives here in Cancun. We need certain assurances on supply of gas and also on the point of delivery of gas from Iran. We have proposed trilateral talks in Tehran in May and are now waiting for a response from Iran. We are going to approach the issue with an open mind. We are for building of pipeline but India's concerns have to be addressed for the long-term viability of the project.”

Mr. Deora said India also had concerns regarding the pricing of the gas from Iran and these need to be sorted out first to put the peace pipeline back on rail. “We are under pressure from no country or individual not to proceed with the project,” he said in response to a question whether India was under pressure from the U.S. not to sign the pipeline deal.

Surge in militancy

India has concerns over security as the pipeline will pass through the volatile Balochistan region. The surge in militancy in Pakistan has only fuelled India's security apprehensions over the pipeline. Senior officials in the government have indicated that the pipeline project will be one of the major issues to be discussed at the next meeting of the India-Iran joint working group.

The pipeline will carry 750 million cubic feet of natural gas from Iran's vast resources to Pakistan by mid-2015.

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