Following a deal between Iran and Pakistan for the construction of natural gas pipeline, New Delhi says it is in consultation with Teheran to address concerns about pricing and security pertaining to the pact which originally involved India. External Affairs Minister S M Krishna disclosed this in New Delhi yesterday. Pakistan on Tuesday signed a 7.5 billion dollar deal with oil-rich Iran, paving the way for laying the much-delayed natural gas pipeline that was originally envisaged to extend up to India. Noting that India is currently not part of the deal, Pakistan Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, in a statement in Islamabad, said the heads of Agreement dealt with transporting gas meant for India through Pakistani territory if and when India decided to join the project.Under the heads of agreement, Pakistan will have the right to charge transit fee for gas transported to India. India has been apprehensive towards the project as the pipeline will pass through the volatile region of Balochistan and the surge in militancy in Pakistan has only increased India's security concerns about the pipeline.
News On AIR | March 19, 2010 1:48 PM
India in consultation with Tehran over pricing and security on IPI gas project