Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh arrives in Islamabad on Wednesday on two-day visit to confer with Pakistani officials on the proposed multi-billion Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, official and diplomatic sources have said. Besides, the 2,600km landline would cost about $4 billion, the two sides will also discuss expansion of mutual cooperation in the energy sector. During their meeting with the Pakistani Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources Amanullah Khan Jadoon, the Iranian delegation is to follow up already reached agreements between Iran, India and Pakistan to expedite export of Iran's gas via Pakistan. The negotiations have gained momentum following improvement of ties between Pakistan and India and the grounds have been prepared for exchange of views among the three countries' officials. Transfer of Iran's gas via Pakistan to India and guaranteeing the security of gas exports are among topics to be discussed between the two sides' oil ministers, the sources said. The oil ministers of Iran and India recently signed an agreement for the annual export of five million tons of Iran's gas to India for a 25 year long period.
