Friday, May 6 2005 09:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Indore: Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar would go to Pakistan later this month to discuss modalities for the proposed gas pipeline between Indian and Iran.

Talks with Iran for the supply of gas was going on and an Indian delegation, which had gone to Iran for talks on the issue will return back today (May 6, 2005), the Minister said at a function in New Delhi yesterday (May 5, 2005).

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between MP State Industrial Development Corporation (MPSIDC) and Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) for laying of gas pipeline from Jagoti to Indore-Dewas Pithampur for industrial use, at the function.

Commenting on the proposed pipeline to transport gas from Iran through Pakistan, he said the development of the country was not possible without energy security.

"The country will become insecure without energy security. Both national security and energy security are inseparable from each other", the Minister said.

Saudi Arabia is willing to meet India's crude oil demand while Qatar and Iran will fulfil the nation' major requirement of gas, Aiyar added.