Now that Pakistan and Iran have reportedly agreed on a timeframe for the long delayed Pak-Iran gas pipeline project, during the minister-level talks held in Islamabad on January 6, it is heartening to learn that decision was also reached on working out the modalities of the project by June 30, along with renewal of invitation to India to make it a triangular enterprise.
As for the urgency in the matter, it should become evident from the fact that Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh arrived in Islamabad with a five-member team, to hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart on the project in the morning of January 5 and left the same evening on conclusion of business.
Petroleum Minister Amanullah Jadoon represented Pakistan at the talks which primarily focused on two issues - timeframe for bringing the project on ground, and inclusion of India within the stipulated period.
The Iranian team is reported to have been told that Pakistan was studying technical aspects of the project with and without India's participation, focusing route of the pipeline and sources of funding. However, pointing out that Islamabad would welcome India's participation in the project, it can not wait indefinitely for its response.
That the Iranian delegation reportedly agreed with Pakistan's timeframe, and to its follow-up by technical discussions between the experts of the two countries, should point to unanimity of their approach. It will be recalled that the Pak-Iran gas pipeline project was conceived six years ago, and India's participation in it was deemed crucial to make the project all the more viable.
Understandably, Iran played a vital role in convincing the Indians that it would help them in a big way in meeting their gas requirements. However, seemingly assured of its gains, as evident from smooth sailing of efforts in that direction for some time, later reluctance on India's part, can only be attributed to the overall bitterness in its relations with Pakistan.
Nevertheless, not losing heart on this count, Iran somehow kept the ball rolling, hoping all the time for a situation where the two arch rivals would talk the issue over.
Now that the peace process between the two countries is proceeding with a composite dialogue on resolution of all their disputes, their readiness to accept each other in the project should leave little to doubt, particularly in view of a widening range of confidence building measures being adopted by either side.
Reference, in this regard, may specifically be made to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's observation that Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project can turn out to be a durable confidence building measure (CBM), creating strong economic linkages and business partnerships between the three countries. Notably, he is reported to have stated this while talking to the Iranian Oil Minister, who called on him to discuss various options for supply of gas from Iran.
More to it, he also apprised him of the effort being made to provide India with a secure energy corridor, to enable it get gas from overseas too. It will also be noted that while elaborating so on Pakistan's goodwill gesture to India, Shaukat Aziz made no secret of the gains from the pipeline project, pointing out that it would be equally beneficial to Iran, India and Pakistan.
And Pakistan, as he said is keen on importing gas to meet its growing energy needs, for which it has been exploring various options. Such initiatives, as he rightly emphasised, do help build linkages and improve relations between countries of the region.
All this put together, will make it appear that prospects of early finalisation of the gas pipeline project have brightened, more so from the strong likelihood of Indian participation. Even, otherwise, Pakistan and Iran seem poised to proceed with it on their own.
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