New Delhi has positively responded to Pakistan's call to rejoin the tripartite, India-Pakistan-Iran (IPI) gas line project, confirming participation of its Oil minister in ministerial meeting, scheduled for April 23 in Islamabad.
Official sources told Business Recorder on Thursday that in response to Pakistan's formal invitation for rejoining IPI project, India has come up with positive response and its Oil minister will be visiting Pakistan for attending the ministerial meeting to sort out controversial issues.
They said Indian participation would expedite the project work and serve as a catalyst to help the parties reach to a workable formula for early materialising the project.
Pakistan had invited India to rejoin IPI last month. Its decision-makers are of the view that India's participation will not only enhance economic viability of the project, but also make it an attraction for seeking funding from the international donors.
India had joined IPI at an early stage and showed great support for it. However, it changed the stance when the US opposed the idea to isolate Iran from the world community and as an alternative offered New Delhi civilian nuclear technology to meet energy demand.
The authorities are of the view that this time India is more serious to remain on board for IPI and it could work well to bring the project on ground in next few months.
Iran is already working closely with Pakistan to sort out legal and technical issues of the project. The two sides have held series of meetings on bilateral basis and so far done much of homework of the project. Iran is already laying down the pipeline on its side to provide gas to its bordering areas close to Balochistan.
Pakistan is also considering to present a new formula for transit fee to hammer down this controversy. It has been a major concern to India and it was the basic reason of its walking out of the project. Pakistan will likely show flexibility by asking the parties to follow the international practices for transit free for IPI project.
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