If India remains undecided in joining the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline venture, the project could instead become Iran-Pakistan-China
Pakistan and Iran are urgently pushing for the execution of the project due to its increasing energy requirement but said it is now overdue because of New Delhi’s concern on settling the issue of transportation tariff and transit fees.
There could be a role of China in the project,” Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the Pakistani Foreign Minister said, who have discussed progress without India on the project negotiation recently in Islamabad and New York. He said that Islamabad could provide an energy corridor to Beijing.
“Iran says it cannot wait further for a third partner and is ready to bilaterally pursue the project,” Mottaki said.
“Pakistan and Iran both welcome India's participation in the project but India has not yet made a final decision,” the Pakistani foreign minister said.
The project, dubbed to be the ‘Peace Pipeline’, originally cost $7.5 billion and was initially projected to be completed in September 2012.
Author:
Ksenia Kochneva
