Pakistan's High Commission (HC) in India has expressed concerns over India's commitment to joining Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project in the near future. In its report to Foreign Office here Pakistan's High Commission said Indian politics and finalisation of US-India deal on nuclear technology will determine the time for New Delhi to become a part of IPI, an official said.
The report added that as long as US-India deal on nuclear technology transfer did not fully materialise, the New Delhi government may not be able to come up with a clear policy decision on the IPI.
Pakistan's High Commission in India quoted a number of statements of top Indian leadership and officials, which have appeared in the newspapers in the recent past. These statements urge the Indian government to stay away from IPI for the time being.
Another factor, which is impacting on the Indian decision to stay away from IPI is politics. The report quoted some media reports alleging that some political parties were provided financial support by at least one major Indian group involved in the gas business.
Pakistan is already doubtful about Indian participation in IPI and has time and again conveyed to Iran and India that it wants to complete the modalities for IPI as early as possible to avoid inordinate delay in the start of its work.
IPI gas pipeline has already been delayed for some years. The idea for this tri-nation project was conceived in 1994. Initially the delay was attributed to Iran's insistence on charging a price for gas that was not acceptable to the two user countries. That issue has now been resolved.
In spite of serious efforts, at least by Islamabad and Tehran, it could not be brought to an advanced stage for start of work after 14 years. It has been the worst victim of international politics. It was sometimes hit by US-Iran row and sometimes by Pak-India row.
The delay has taken its cost from an initial estimate of 2.5 billion dollar in 1998 to over 7.5 billion dollar in 2008. After 14 years, there is still no firm commitment to finalise the modalities and start practical work on the project in the near future.
An official said that a Pakistani delegation will shortly leave for Tehran to hold talks with the Iranian government for early materialisation of IPI project.