Thursday, December 15 2005 13:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: The multi-billion-dollar Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project came under close focus during talks between visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and his counterpart Khurshid M Kasuri here today (December 15, 2005).

During the meeting with Mottaki, Kasuri explained Pakistan's increasing energy needs and expressed his country's interest in early implementation of the gas pipeline project estimated to cost up to USD 7.2 billion.

Both sides noted the progress of the Pak-Iran Joint Working Group on the pipeline project, which held its fourth round in Tehran last month, a Foreign Office statement here said.

The Pakistan-India Joint Working Group would be meeting in New Delhi on December 16-17, besides the pipeline, the Mottaki-Kasuri talks centred on Pakistan-Iran ties, regional and international developments, trade and economic cooperation, the statement said.

Mottaki, who is on a two-day visit here, said that Iran attached highest priority to relations with Pakistan. The two sides agreed that USD one billion trade target fixed recently was easily achievable, the statement said.

On Iranian nuclear issue, Kasuri said Pakistan supported the Iran-EU dialogue, hoping that it would be resumed soon and would lead to an amicable solution of the problem.

He said the issue should be settled within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency and added that Pakistan supported Iran's legitimate rights as a state party to nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Kasuri said Pakistan is against the use force on Iran's nuclear issue.