NEW DELHI, April 6 (UPI) -- Pakistan, in a bid to allay Indian concerns over transit routes, has offered to sell India Iranian oil at its border, boosting the tri-nation pipeline.
The semi-official Press Trust of India reported Friday that Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, in a meeting with Indian Petroleum Minister Murli Deora Tuesday, offered to buy 60 million standard cubic meters per day of gas from Iran and sell half of it to India at their common border. The news agency quoted "highly placed sources."
The $7 billion, 643-mile pipeline has been stalled because of a pricing dispute and Indian concern over high transit fees and the price of Iranian gas. Under the reported Pakistani suggestion, India would not have to deal with Iran or worry about security for the pipeline, PTI reported.
"On the flip side, Pakistan may add some margin to the already high Iranian gas price," PTI said.
Under initial plans, India would have paid close to $7 per million British thermal units when transit fees were taken into account.
The United States opposes the deal because it says it will embolden Iran, which is facing international scrutiny for its nuclear program.
