Indian official in Pakistan next week to move on two pipeline deals

Indian official in Pakistan next week to move on two pipeline deals

Murli Deora, the petroleum minister of India, has reconfirmed his visit next week to Islamabad to pick up the pieces of the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline that faltered amidst a row between the two countries and Pakistan’s internal political strife.

Deora will also announce its formal partnership in the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline, the Business Standard reports.

“We will meet Pakistan after the TAPI pipeline meeting for resolving the issue of what fee needs to be paid to Pakistan for the gas that passes through that country through the pipeline from Iran,” Deora said.

The India-Pakistan dispute over transit fees for the so-called Peace Pipeline carrying Iranian natural gas to Pakistan and on to India led to a standstill last year. India is believed to be pressured by the United States as a way to force Iran over its nuclear program. Washington also supports the TAPI pipeline.

As the political upheaval in Pakistan boiled until it was likely a new government would be elected, India decided to wait until restarting talks.

“We were waiting for the elections in Pakistan to be over. Now that is over, we can take the pipeline project forward,” he said.

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