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Monday, May 22, 2006
India, Iran, Pak hold trilateral talks on pipeline http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7598_1703502,000500020000.htm
KJM Varma (PTI)
Islamabad, May 22, 2006
Top petroleum officials of India, Pakistan and Iran on Monday held talks on pricing, trilateral framework and appointment of consultants to carry out feasibility studies on the proposed 2,600 km long IPI gas pipeline.
The deliberations came amidst reports that there were sharp differences between Iran and Pakistan in their bilateral talks held on Sunday during which the two countries clashed on the issue of pricing and modalities to supply gas to India.
Petroleum Secretary MS Srinivasan, heading a 10- member Indian delegation, joined the two-day talks on the $7 billion pipeline in Islamabad on Monday to discuss issues like pricing, trilateral framework and appointment of consultants to carry out feasibility studies.
Sharp differences surfaced between Iran and Pakistan during talks Iranian Deputy Oil Minister MH Hosseinian held with Secretary Petroleum Ahmad Waqar. The two held a bilateral meeting on Sunday ahead of two-day trilateral meeting.
Besides differences on pricing, Iran reportedly sought an assurance from Pakistan that it would not sell gas to India under the IPI. However, Pakistan did not agree, saying that once the gas had been purchased, the seller had nothing to do with it, it said.
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