India, Iran to go ahead with gas pipeline project

Hindustan Times:

Ignoring objections from the US, India and Iran on Saturday decided to go ahead with the proposed $7.4 billion dollar pipeline project to supply much-needed natural gas through Pakistan and sign a framework agreement by December this year for the purpose.

"If all goes well there can be a tripartite meeting of the concerned ministers of (India, Iran and Pakistan) to finalise a framework agreement by December 31," External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh said after holding wide-ranging talks with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki in Tehran.

In another major deal, Singh said Tehran has agreed to supply five million metric tonnes of liquid natural gas to India annually. India had asked for 7.5 million tonnes of natural gas supply.