Reports noted that India has decided not to attend the trilateral IPI gas pipeline talks in Tehran to be held from February 12-13, 2008. Tehran had organised this meeting to resolve differences between India and Pakistan over the pipeline and initiate a speedy resolution to all contentious issues such as transit fees and price of the gas. Iranian sources had earlier indicated that Indian and Pakistani ministers, who had discussed pricing issues in their recent meeting in London, were expected to continue their discussions in Tehran1.

Reports also indicated that further meetings on the pipeline would only take place after the conclusion of the Pakistani general elections2. Petroleum Minister Murli Deora was expected to visit Pakistan in March on the invitation of Pakistani Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Amanullah Khan Jadoon to sort out details of the transit fees.

• 1. “IPI pipeline talks to continue in Tehran,” Tehrantimes.com, February 4, 2008, at http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=162612
• 2. Sujay Mehudia, “India not to attend pipeline talks,” The Hindu, February 6, 2008, at http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/06/stories/2008020662100100.htm