ISLAMABAD, June 7: India has expressed interest in participating in the proposed gas pipelines from Turkmenistan, Iran and Qatar ‘not as alternative options to each other but for multiplying gas supplies’, a senior government official said on Tuesday.

Talking to Dawn after the oil ministers of India and Pakistan signed a joint communique at the end of their three-day talks here, the official said there had been a general realization that the three gas projects should be taken up because energy needs of the two countries would increase with the growth of their economies.

The joint communique quoted Indian oil minister Mani Shankar Aiyar as saying that ‘India expressed interest in participating in the project (Qatar pipeline)...to attend the steering committee meeting (on Turkmenistan pipeline)’.

Petroleum minister Amanullah Khan Jadoon briefed the Indian minister on the Turkmenistan project and the Indian side expressed interest in it.

Mr Aiyar said he would respond positively to an invitation to attend the next steering committee meeting.

The Pakistani side outlined the parameters of the proposed Gulf-South Asia pipeline project and India expressed interest in participating in it.

The communique said the ministers reviewed the proposal for the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline and agreed that the project would go a long way in meeting the energy requirements of the two countries.

The Indian and Pakistani delegations also agreed to exchange information about financial structuring and other related issues to realize a safe and secure project.

To this end, it was agreed that a joint working group would be set up at the secretary-level. The group will meet regularly and report to the ministers to help them to take definitive decisions at the earliest.

Mr Aiyar invited Mr Jadoon to visit India to pursue the transnational pipeline projects and to maintain the momentum of dialogue and cooperation. The invitation was accepted and Mr Jadoon would visit India at his earliest convenience.

It was also agreed that the Indian minister would visit Pakistan again later this year.

These visits are to be preceded by meetings of the joint working group alternately in India and Pakistan to discuss all issues relevant to the pipeline projects.

The two ministers agreed that the transnational pipeline projects should be given top priority as they carried substantial advantages for the two countries.

They were of the view that the processing of pipeline projects should be accelerated given the substantial requirements of gas for the two countries.

The Indian minister explained to the Pakistan side India’s requirements of gas and arrangements worked out by India.

The Pakistani side presented in detail the position of demand and supply for natural gas in the country.

The Indian minister thanked the Pakistani side for the detailed information provided to him and in turn provided some details of arrangements made by India for importing liquefied natural gas. He also agreed to share technical information and experience in this regard with the Pakistani side.