India and Pakistan have resolved commercial differences holding up a proposed multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline from Iran, oil ministers of both nations said on Friday. The project, which aims to transport gas from Iran to Pakistan and India, was first mooted in 1994 but has been stalled by a series of disputes over prices and transit fees.
Qureshi also said that Pakistan would "provide foolproof security" for the planned 2,600-km pipeline, expected to pass through Balochistan region: "I am happy to report that as far as Pakistan and India are concerned, we have resolved all bilateral issues. There is no issue whatsoever that needs to be addressed now," Pakistan's Oil Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was quoted as saying by Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency.
Qureshi, who also holds Foreign Affairs portfolio, is here on a three-day visit, and made the announcement after talks with Indian Oil Minister Murli Deora. "We have reached an agreement on the principles of charging transit fee. India remains fully committed to the project," the Indian minister was also quoted as saying by PTI. Qureshi also said that Pakistan would "provide foolproof security" for the planned 2,600-km (1,615 miles) pipeline, expected to pass through Balochistan region.
APP adds: Pakistan and India have decided to hold foreign secretary levels talks here on July 21 to launch the fifth round of their more than four-year old composite dialogue. The decision came at the meeting between Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee here on Friday.
Addressing a joint press conference, Pranab Mukherjee announced that Pakistan chapter of Pakistan-India judicial committee would visit Indian jails next month. Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the environment was conducive to resolving outstanding issues and the people of both the countries supported the peace process.
All political players in Pakistan and India were also supportive of the peace process, he said. The Foreign Minister said the secretary level talks would discuss Kashmir and other issues. The issues of Siachen and Sir Creek were resolvable, he said.
"We should seize the opportunity to resolve all outstanding issues," Shah Mahmood Qureshi emphasised. People of both the countries wanted peace and stability, which was necessary for economic development of South Asia, he said. The two ministers expressed the common resolve to take the peace process forward.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan wanted India to join IPI gas project, as it was beneficial for both energy-starved countries. Describing the project as doable, he said both the countries were paying huge subsidies on account of energy. To a question on the issue of death row prisoner Sarabjit Singh, he said his case was under consideration.
Referring to the ceasefire and confidence buildings measures, Qureshi said Pakistan wanted maintenance of ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC) besides more confidence building measures. The working groups of both the countries would review the implementation status of such CBMs. When asked about security in Peshawar, he said the northwestern provincial capital was absolutely secure.
He Pakistan has adopted three-pronged strategy to counter terrorism including dialogue with those who are against terrorism, economic and social development of the area and use of force as the last resort.
Referring to the issue of prisoners, he said it had been brought to our notice that there was mishandling of prisoners and these cases had been published in Pakistani press. "It is an humanitarian issue and recommendations of the Judicial Committee should be implemented in letter and in spirit," he said.
The Foreign Minister, in his opening remarks at the press conference, said he had come to India with positive mind and realistic agenda. He urged that serious thought should be given to resolving outstanding issues.
"I have come as a representative of democratic government and coalition partners. The region has huge potential which can be exploited if peace, and stability is there," he added. He said Pakistan wanted liberal visa regime, people-to-people contacts and economic cooperation.
Earlier, Pranab Mukherjee said although this was the first visit of Shah Mahmood Qureshi to India as Foreign Minister, he was no stranger to India and had visited many times in the past. He said the composite dialogue process had substantial achievements to its credit. This process had proved to be a useful instrument for developing and enhancing bilateral relations.
"It is our expectation that the fifth round of this process, to be launched in July, will be even more fruitful than the earlier rounds," he said. Mukherjee said Pakistan's Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission held discussions. Issues of energy, security, food security, poverty alleviation, amongst others, were challenges, which confronted both the countries, he said.
He noted that certain ideas for cooperation were emerging in the areas of wind and thermal energy. The joint anti-terror mechanism also met in Islamabad recently and the discussions in that meeting were constructive, Mukherjee said.
He said India was committed to peace, friendship and good neighbourly relations with Pakistan and to develop these relations in an atmosphere free from violence or the threat to use violence. "Such an atmosphere has to be positively promoted," he said.
"I believe we both have certain ideas on the table for detailed technical follow up in the composite dialogue once the fifth round begins at the secretaries level," he said. The resurgence of democracy and popular participation in Pakistan was a positive factor for bilateral relationship and indeed for the whole region, Mukherjee said.
The scope for cooperation was immense and covered all fields, he said, adding India hoped that in the fifth round of the composite dialogue, concrete achievements would continue and pave the way for a qualitative transformation of bilateral relations.