ISLAMABAD, July 6: Islamabad and Tehran agreed on Wednesday that all future talks on the $4.2 billion Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project would be held on a trilateral basis.
The two sides decided that India would be involved in all ministerial or secretary level talks on the project.
Pakistan and Iran will sign a memorandum of understanding on the issue on Thursday.
The decision was taken in a preliminary meeting of the oil and gas ministers of the two countries here on Wednesday.
Iranian Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh arrived here in the afternoon and held a brief discussions with his counterpart Amanullah Khan Jadoon.
The two ministers told journalists after the meeting that they had not discussed the issue of gas price because it was considered premature.
The three countries have not yet held a joint meeting on the project.
Under the agreement, Iranian officials will attend a meeting of the Pakistan-India working group on gas pipeline comprising petroleum secretaries of the two countries in New Delhi in August.
An official said reports of major gas discoveries in India would not affect the project.
He said the Indian oil minister had stated that the reports were of preliminary nature and could not be confirmed unless detailed data analysis and studies were completed.
Some reports in the Indian media had suggested that India might give second thought to the project because of two discoveries of estimated 20 trillion and 14 trillion cubic feet reserves.
India had shown interest last month to participate in three proposed gas pipelines from Turkmenistan, Iran and Qatar for multiplying supplies instead of as alternative options.
Pakistan and India had agreed that all the three projects would have to be completed as energy needs grew with economic growth in both the countries.
The three sides are expected to exchange information with regard to the financial, technical, commercial and legal issues and other matters when they meet in August.
ISLAMABAD, July 6: Islamabad and Tehran agreed on Wednesday that all future talks on the $4.2 billion Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project would be held on a trilateral basis.
