India in talks with Iran to join IPI gas pipeline: official

Azerbaijan, Baku, Apr.20/ Trend F.Karimov/ India is negotiating with Iran about participating in the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project, IRIB reported with reference to Iranian Oil Ministry Spokesman Alireza Nikzad-Rahbar. India has been boycotting formal talks on the project since 2007 over security concerns. Iran and Pakistan have already signed pacts on the implementation of the long-talked project on bilateral basis. India wants Iran to take responsibility for safe gas transportation via 1 035-km pipeline section in Pakistan and is going to pay for the fuel only after it is delivered to Pakistan-India border. India and Iran are likely to discuss the stalled IPI gas pipeline at a joint commission meeting in the 1st quarter of the year, Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said. IPI project had been stalled because of the gas price as well as the security of the pipeline. "The price issue, as well as the other ones, has to be sorted out. For considering this issue, we are going to create a joint commission early this year," he said. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az