Monday, December 27 2004 19:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Asserting that it will not agree to any external conditionalties for the multibillion dollar transnational India-Iran gas pipeline, Pakistan today (Dec 27, 2004) said New Delhi has to do the cost analysis and decide whether it wants to be part of the project or not.

"Iran and Pakistan are on board. India has to decide and make a cost analysis. It has to give a signal to both Pakistan and Iran if it wants to associate with it," Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan told reporters in Islamabad after India-Pakistan Foreign Secretaries talks today.

His remarks came following the arrival of Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi in Islamabad for two-day talks with Pakistani leaders to discuss a host of issues, including the proposed Iran-India gas pipeline project to be laid through Pakistan.

Khan said Pakistan would welcome Indian participation in the project as it is in the interest of India, Pakistan and Iran but at the same time insisted that it is a stand-alone project and Pakistan would not accept any external conditions.

He said Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has reiterated Islamabad's position to the Indian leadership during his November visit to New Delhi.