India has not abandoned so far the Iran-Pakistan-India Gas pipeline project, said former Indian Minister for Petroleum Mani Shankar Aiyar. Talking to Business Recorder at the residence of former foreign affairs minister of Pakistan Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri here on Friday, Mani Shankar Aiyar said that there was substantial progress on this project when he was Indian Minister for Petroleum. "I am sure that this project has not so far been given up by India," he added.
He further said that India is in dire need of gas in view of increasing demand and there exists no other option for it except to get gas from different sources. When asked that the Informal Group of former ministers formed in Lahore is comprised of "used cartridges" Mani Shankar Aiyar smilingly said, "This group is full of used cartridges with a new gun."
He, however, said this group is result of previous efforts from both sides and expressed the hope that the situation would improve impressively by 2020. The former Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh, however, left the residence of Kasuri soon after the press briefing, as he had to chair the launching ceremony of his book at a local club. It may be noted that discussions on the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, also known as the IPI pipeline or the Peace pipeline were started in 1994.
A preliminary agreement was signed in 1995 between Pakistan and Iran. This agreement foresaw construction of a pipeline from South Pars gas field to Karachi in Pakistan. Later Iran made a proposal to extend the pipeline from Pakistan in to India. In February 1999, a preliminary agreement between Iran and India was signed. In February 2007, India and Pakistan agreed to pay Iran $4.93 per million but some details relating to price adjustment remained open to further negotiation.
In April 2008 Iran expressed interest in the People's Republic of China's participation in the project. In 2009, India withdraws from the project over pricing and security issues, and after signing a civilian nuclear deal with the United States in 2008.
However, in March 2010 India called on Pakistan and Iran for trilateral talks in May 2010 in Tehran. However, on March 16, 2010, Iran and Pakistan signed an agreement on the pipeline in Ankara. On April 12, 2010, Iran announced that it has completed construction of 1,000 kilometers of the pipeline out of the 1,100 kilometers portion on Iranian soil.
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