Mokhtar Ahmad told Petroenergy Information Network that Pakistan needs Iran’s gas, adding, “Participation of India in the project will be very useful, but we are intent to sign the contract under any circumstances.”

Talking about other gas supply projects of Pakistan, Ahmad stated that his country has been negotiating with Turkmenistan for import of liquefied natural gas, but the priority is being given to the peace pipeline and gas imports from Iran.

“We like to import the Iranian liquefied natural gas, but we think that Iran is not yet ready to sell liquefied natural gas to Pakistan,” he noted.

Trilateral negotiations on the peace pipeline will start in Tehran today attended by senior experts from Iran, India, and Pakistan.

According to current plans, the new round of negotiations will continue for four days in preparation for a final agreement on the project, which is expected to be reached at the end of June.

In view of past meetings between concerned officials of Pakistan, India, and Iran, observers maintain that agreement of three countries on a final price formula, overall structure of the project, the route of the pipeline and the amount of Iran’s gas export to India and Pakistan would not be out of reach.