Pak, Iran to implement gasline project soon
TEHRAN (Agencies) - President General Pervez Musharraf on Monday proposed a plan of action to bring about unity in the ranks of Ummah and to address major decisive issues in the region particularly Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq.
The President in his talks with the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad at the Presidential Complex said that unity among the ranks of Muslim Ummah would also defuse confrontation between Iran and the United States.
The two leaders held formal talks, which lasted about seventy-five minutes. These were followed by a one- on-one meeting. The Iranian President welcomed plan and assured the President of all possible assistance on the part of Iran to make it a success.
The Iranian President expressed the willingness to initiate implementation of the project immediately. Since the two countries have worked out the pricing mechanism Iran and Pakistan will discuss an early implementation of the pipeline project.
The President also met Iranian supreme leader Ayatullah Ali Khemnai. ISNA news agency reported that Khamenei told Musharraf: “Israel has been the main reason for divisions among Islamic nations.
“Any plan about the situation in the Middle East will be successful when it stops the bullying of the US in the region and puts an end to the Zionist crimes.”
“This dangerous plan is under operation in Iraq and some other countries, and the Islamic countries and nations must make this plot fail by alertness and unity,” Khamenei said of divisions between Shias and Sunnis.
Meanwhile, Iranian Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh said on Monday that Iran and Pakistan had reached agreement on the final sale price of the gas to be transferred through Peace Pipeline. Speaking to reporters in Jam he said the Indian Deputy Oil Minister had agreed with the suggested formula but sought one month to take decision.
Vaziri Hamaneh said that Pakistan and India are expected to discuss the issue in the coming two weeks. Meanwhile, Iran has warned that it will strike a bilateral deal with Pakistan for gas supply if India does not agree to the price sought during discussions among the three countries in January, Indian Express quoted sources as saying.
“When the Indian delegation reached Tehran, it got to know that the hosts had already set a meeting with a Pakistani delegation on January 24. We also sought a courtesy call, which was then acceded to. Although the meeting was to be a joint one, the Pakistan side was called in first and their discussion lasted for an hour,” said another official.
The Nation.
http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/feb-2007/6/index2.php