By IRNA,
New Delhi : India on Wednesday proposed dialogue with Iran to discuss impediments in implementation of the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project.
Petroleum Minister Murli Deora met Iran’s Deputy Minister for International Affairs Noghrehkar Shirazi on the sidelines of the 12th International Energy Forum in Cancun to propose bilateral talks in May.
“We are ready to hold talks and have proposed meeting of Joint Working Group (of the two countries) on the pipeline project,” Sunil Jain, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation), said after the meeting, PTI reported. “We are waiting for them (Iran) to decide on the dates,” he said.
The New Delhi’s offer of talks follows Iran and Pakistan signing pacts to implement the long-talked project on bilateral basis.
The pipeline has been on the drawing board since the mid-1990s, when Iran and India inked preliminary agreements to transport gas through Pakistan. It was dubbed the ‘Peace Pipeline’ because of hopes it would lead to a detente between neighbours India and Pakistan.