IRAN AND PAKISTAN ON SUNDAY VOWED TO WORK ON A BILATERAL GAS PIPELINE PROJECT IF INDIA FAILS TO JOIN THEM. THE ORIGINAL PLAN CALLED FOR A $7 BILLION PIPELINE TO PUMP IRANIAN GAS TO INDIA THROUGH PAKISTANI TERRITORY, AND OFFICIALS HAD SAID THEY AIMED TO SIGN A DEAL IN JUNE. THE COST AND TIMING OF A BILATERAL DEAL FOR A SHORTER PIPELINE HAS YET TO DETERMINED. AHMED WAQAR, PERMANENT SECRETARY AT PAKISTAN'S PETROLEUM MINISTRY, SAID PAKISTAN AND IRAN HAD AGREED TO GO AHEAD WITH THE BILATERAL PIPELINE REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME OF THE TRILATERAL PROJECT. "BOTH SIDES AGREED TO MAKE IMMEDIATE EFFORTS FOR CONCLUDING THE BILATERAL ARRANGEMENTS," SAID A STATEMENT ISSUED AFTER THREE DAYS OF TALKS BETWEEN SENIOR PETROLEUM OFFICIALS OF THE TWO COUNTRIES AND CARRIED BY REUTERS. IRAN'S DEPUTY OIL MINISTER, MOHAMMAD HADI NEJAD-HOSSEINIAN, ON FRIDAY URGED PAKISTAN AND INDIA TO PRESS AHEAD WITH THE PROJECT OR FACE THE PROSPECT OF BUYING 1 MILLION BARRELS A DAY OF IMPORTED OIL.
