Pakistan calls for swift IPI deals

PARIS, June 12 (UPI) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said in Paris outstanding issues in the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline need a quick resolution.

Qureshi said Thursday on the sidelines of a donor conference for Afghanistan that he and his Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki, spoke on the urgency of finalizing deals on the gas pipeline project, the Press Trust of India said.

Noting the importance the project plays in solidifying diplomatic ties between the two countries, Qureshi said it is "important that necessary steps should be taken amongst the concerned parties to finalize the formalities for implementation of the project at the earliest."

Iran and Pakistan are ready to sign onto a gas sale agreement for the pipeline, and a statement from the Pakistani government said Mottaki reaffirmed Iran's commitment to the project.

The Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, or Peace Pipeline, is a planned 1,724-mile project intended to deliver natural gas from Iran to Pakistan and India.