China may join Iran-Pakistan pipeline

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, March 25 (UPI) -- China is ready to join the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline if India drops out of the $7.4 billion project, Dawn newspaper reported Tuesday quoting Pakistani sources.

The report said Pakistan had urged Iran earlier this month to make the project final by next month because of its growing demand for natural gas.

Iran informed Pakistan if India remained reluctant to join the project under pressure from the United States, Iran would then invite China to do so, the report said.

"(The) Chinese have told us that they are ready to join it," a source in Pakistani petroleum ministry told Dawn.

While Pakistan and Iran have completed a gas purchase agreement, India is yet to do so largely because of differences with Pakistan over the transit fee for the fuel transported through Pakistan.

The report said Pakistan wants Iran to increase the volume of gas it will supply by 50 percent if India opts out of the deal.

It wasn't clear how the specifications would change if China comes into the project.