Saturday, February 19 2005 18:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would visit Iran next week apparently to finalise a deal on gas pipeline after India agreed to consider the project to secure supply of gas.

Aziz, accompanied by Petroleum Minister Amanullah Jadoon, would pay a state visit to Tehran from February 22-24. Ahead of his visit top Pakistan petroleum officials have already left for Tehran to prepare the groundwork.

The visit will take place after the return of Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazzi from New Delhi where he is expected to discuss Indo-Iran gas pipeline project.

Besides the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, the gas pipeline project topped the talks between External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh and Pakistan leaders during his three-day bilateral visit earlier this week.

India agreed to look at the project subject to satisfaction of its concerns relating to security and assured supply.

The prospects for the pipeline brightened after the Indian Cabinet authorised the Petroleum Ministry to hold talks with Iran and Pakistan Governments and finalise the 2,700 km-long pipeline to be laid from Iran to India via Pakistan.

Officials in Islamabad said Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar would be invited to Pakistan after Aziz's return from Iran. Till now the pipeline was bogged down due to differences between Islamabad and New Delhi on various counts.

While India argued that the pipeline should be part of opening up of economic and trade ties between the two countries, Pakistan wants it to be a stand along project aimed at creating mutual dependencies.