(a) whether there has been a slow-down in the talks on the implementation of the Iran-
Pakistan-India Gas Pipeline Project;
(b) whether India had not participated in the trilateral talks held in Iran during
September-October this year; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI MURLI DEORA)
(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 14
ASKED BY SHRI C.K. CHANDRAPPAN AND SHRI RAGHUVEER SINGH KOSHAL, MPs TO BE ANSWERED ON 15th
NOVEMBER 2007 REGARDING INDO-IRAN GAS PIPELINE.
(a) to (c): India has been pursuing the import of natural gas from Iran through the Iran-
Pakistan-India (IPI) transnational gas pipeline. Various important issues are under discussion
amongst the participating countries.
2. Such multilateral projects involve protracted discussions, as all the aspects have to
be carefully examined and deliberated upon to the satisfaction of the participating countries
to protect each country’s interests as also to avoid any future problems in the successful
operation of the project.
3. A tripartite Joint Working Group (JWG) of Iran, Pakistan and India has been formed.
Six meetings of the trilateral JWG have been held, the last meeting being held in New Delhi
on June 28 - 29, 2007. Two separate Secretary level Joint Working Groups (JWGs), viz., India-
Pakistan JWG and India Iran Special JWG, have also been constituted. Three meetings of
India-Iran SJWG have been held. Five meetings of India-Pakistan JWG have been held; the
last meeting was held on June 27 & 28, 2007 in New Delhi.
4. Iran proposed to hold the Seventh Trilateral Meeting in Tehran during last week of
September 2007. India informed that it would be appropriate for the bilateral meeting between
India and Pakistan to precede the trilateral meeting, as certain bilateral issues, such as
transportation tariff and transit fee, needed to be resolved first. India and Pakistan also
need to finalize their response to the demand of Iran to introduce a fresh price revision
clause. However, Iran and Pakistan reportedly had the bilateral meeting. It is now proposed
to hold bilateral discussion between India and Pakistan on the IPI project, after the Steering
Committee Meeting of Turkmenistan- Afghanistan- Pakistan- (India) (TAPI) gas pipeline project
to be held in Islamabad on November 28 and 29, 2007.