India, Pakistan to discuss Iran pipeline

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, April 17 (UPI) -- Pakistan and India reportedly are ready to proceed with a $7 billion pipeline to bring Iranian natural gas for their consumption.

The Pakistan Times, quoting official sources, reported Tuesday India's Petroleum Minister Murli Deora was expected to visit Pakistan next month to discuss the transit fee India must pay to transfer the gas through Pakistani territory.

The United States, whose relations with India have dramatically improved, is concerned money from the pipeline project will be used by Iran to fund its nuclear program.

Deora's visit follows his talks with Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz early this month in New Delhi where Aziz attended a South Asian economic summit. At the time, Deora reportedly had expressed India's reservations over Pakistan's proposed high transit fee of 10 percent of the gas price to deliver the gas at the Pakistan-India border.

The Times said India has stressed any decision on the Iranian project must also consider the geopolitics surrounding the issue.

The Times quoted Anand Sharma, India's minister of state for foreign affairs, telling a New Delhi seminar, "There have been hiccups in the initial stages about the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline. But the project is moving ahead." Sharma also said India is considering other trans-national projects including the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India and the Myanmar-Bangladesh-India pipelines.