Monday, September 18 2006 11:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: With talks on the multi-billion dollar tri-nation gas pipeline stalled due to differences over pricing, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may invite Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pervez Musharraf to Tehran to discuss the fate of the project.

During his meeting with Musharraf on the sidelines of NAM Summit in Havana, Ahmadinejad invited the Pakistani President to visit Tehran to discuss the progress of the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project, the official APP news agency reported here yesterday (Sept 17,2006).

The two leaders discussed the pricing for the gas and expressed satisfaction over the appointment of a consultant on the issue.

"The Iranian President has invited President Musharraf on this (gas) issue," quoted Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri.

However, he said, Musharraf suggested that it would be a better idea if he were invited after the consultant had submitted the report on pricing.

Kasuri said the Iranian leader also indicated he would like to invite Prime Minister Manmonhan Singh at that stage for discussion on the gas pricing issue.