NEW DELHI, March 14 (UPI) -- India, Pakistan and Iran will, in the next two days, hold the first tripartite talks on the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project.
The talks, which will be held in Tehran, will finalize key issues relating to the proposed gas pipeline project extending across the three countries.
The Hindu newspaper said the Indian delegation, led by Energy Secretary M.S. Srinivasan and officials from the Indian Oil Corp. and the Gas Authority of India Limited, left for Tehran Monday.
The Indian oil ministry said the teams from the three countries are aiming to tie up a draft agreement that can be given the green light at the formal ministerial-level meeting expected to be held next month in Tehran.
"The critical issues to be discussed at this round of talks include gas pricing and project structure, as well as the contours of the draft agreement," the ministry said.
Uncertainty was looming large over the fate of the pipeline project after Mani Shankar Aiyer, who had been a key supporter of the project's implementation, was moved from the energy department.
Murli Deora, the new Indian energy minister, made it clear he was equally serious about the implementation of the project.
"In view of the need to ensure energy security, it was essential for India to go ahead with this project," Deora said.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had also assured Parliament that India was committed to implementing the pipeline project.
New Delhi is insisting on the early implementation of the pipeline project in view of the increasing price of oil on the world market and the rising volume of imports needed by an expanding economy.
