ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan, who is in Vienna for bilateral consultations, is likely to touch base with some key officials at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The foreign secretary left for Vienna on a three-day visit on Monday.

“Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan, besides holding talks with his Austrian counterpart, will meet some key IAEA officials,” sources told Dawn on Tuesday.

The visit acquires significance given that Austria will be assuming the European Union presidency next month. Also, it coincides with Iranian Foreign Minister Manoucher Mottaki’s first visit to Pakistan during which the question of Tehran’s nuclear programme and its negotiations with the IAEA and the EU would come up.

Mr Mottaki would arrive on Wednesday on a two-day visit.

A foreign ministry official insisted that the primary purpose of the visit was bilateral consultations with Austria and the expected meeting at the IAEA was secondary.

In a departure from the standard practice the Foreign Office did not announce the foreign secretary’s visit even though it was his first bilateral visit to Austria.

IPI PIPELINE PROJECT: Pakistan reacted cautiously to the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman’s statement that Tehran would welcome Russian involvement in the multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline project provided Pakistan and India agreed.

Apparently Russia has already conveyed to Iran its interest in the project.

When Dawn asked Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam if Pakistan would be open to the idea, she pointed out that details relating to financing and other aspects of the construction of the gas pipeline were yet to be negotiated and finalized by Pakistan, Iran and India.

However, in a hint that Pakistan may not be opposed to the idea of Russia coming on board, the spokesperson said: “Once there is an agreement on the consortium and it is decided to invite companies for financing and construction of the pipeline then this would be considered.”