India, Pakistan to discuss Iran, Turkmenistan gas pipeline projects

22 April 2008

Mumbai: India will hold talks with Pakistan to resolve differences over the transit fee and transportation tariff for the long-delayed Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline.

Petroleum minister Murli Deora is leaving today for the Pakistan capital to participate in the talks on the IPI pipeline project beginning 25 April.

Deora will also take part in discussions on the US-backed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project during April 23-24.

Officials of the four countries in the TAPI project are meeting to prepare for the ministerial-level talks.

India and Pakistan will be holding talks on the $7 billion IPI project for the first time since June last year.

Deora's visit also will be the first formal official-level meeting between India and Pakistan since the new coalition government led by the Pakistan People's Party assumed office last month.