ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, March 9 (UPI) -- Pakistan plans to purchase natural gas from Iran independent of India through a long-awaited pipeline from the South Pars field, officials said.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari scheduled a visit to Tehran Tuesday to discuss strengthening economic ties between both countries.
"I think we should have more trade together," Zardari told the Islamic Republic News Agency. "Trade should be supported externally, internally and regionally."
Pakistani news agency PakTribune noted Zardari said those relations would include the purchase of natural gas from the planned Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline, even if India backs out of the project.
Plans for the 1,724-mile IPI pipeline from South Pars have limped along for decades, with concerns raised variably over security of the pipeline route to pricing terms.
