06 February 2005	Sunday	26 Zilhaj 1425

TEHRAN, Feb 5: Iran and Pakistan may not wait for an uncertain India to join a deal to buy Iranian gas via a trans-Pakistan pipeline, Iran's deputy oil minister for international affairs was quoted on Saturday as saying.

"Iran and Pakistan are ready to separately sign a deal for Iranian gas exports, as the Indians are still doubting on a pipeline supply via Pakistan," Hadi Nejad-Hosseinian said in the press.

Talks on setting up a pipeline from Iran to India have still not borne fruit due to territorial conflict between India and Pakistan. Despite repeated assurances from Pakistan, India hesitates to give a go-ahead to the deal.

The minister said "terms of cooperation with Pakistan should be in a way to provide adequate assurance to India about transportation of gas through Pakistan's land."

Nejad-Hosseinian said the pipeline talks had progressed, adding that "because of the day-by-day increasing gas demand of these two countries, one single pipeline would not be sufficient to supply gas and the demand might necessitate two pipelines."

Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is scheduled to visit Iran in late February to probably sign a memorandum of understanding on the gas imports from the giant South Pars field in the Gulf.

Iran's only current gas exports are to Turkey and are expected to reach five billion cubic meters by the end of the current Iranian calendar year on March 20.

Last year, Iran and India signed a 25-year contract worth $20-$30 billion to export five million to 7.5 million tons per year of liquefied natural gas from Iran. The project will not be operational until 2009.-AFP