Pak assures India on Iran gas pipeline

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi

June 27: When India and Pakistan have resolved contentious issues like water by signing on for the Indus Waters Treaty, the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project is "chicken feed", visiting Pakistan foreign minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi said here on Friday.

Responding to India’s concerns about security of pipeline and assured supply of gas, Mr Qureshi said there are enough "international experiences" and "mechanisms that have worked well in the past" to ensure security of the IPI gas pipeline project.

Asserting that the IPI gas pipeline project is "doable", Mr Qureshi said Pakistan is keen to move forward on it and it wants India to take a "quickly decision" on her participation in what he said is a "pipeline of peace and new bondage". Mr Qureshi said the international oil prices have gone "berserk" and both India and Pakistan are suffering fiscal problems on account of subsidies. "IPI project can help mitigate energy shortages," he reasoned.

***

Pak minister cuts trip short

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi

June 27: Pakistan foreign minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi cut short his three-day visit to India because of the death of his mother-in-law.