New Delhi, September 14:

American disapproval notwithstanding, India and Pakistan share ‘total commitment’ on the tri-lateral pipeline project with Iran and will seek international certification of its gas reserves once the framework agreement has been reached by the yearend.

The just concluded India-Pakistan bilateral secretary level talks held in Islamabad “were very useful and focused on technical issues. We were all on the same side with total commitment to the pipeline project,” a senior petroleum ministry official, who was part of the joint working group, said, “By November, the petroleum ministry will seek the cabinet nod on the project structure.”

With the security issues expected to be addressed through international best practices and participation of global consultants, the focus of both India and Pakistan has moved to technical, legal and financial issues.

“Both sides are still debating on the desirability of seeking rich or lean gas from Iran. India and Pakistan may ask Iran for rich gas if it is available and at the right price,” the official said. “It is in this context that international certification on the gas reserves will be sought from Iran,” the official said. India has estimated an annual requirement of 60-90 million standard cubic metres of gas per day (MSCMD), while Pakistan estimates a of about 30-60 MSCMD.

The final quantity of gas to be imported through the pipeline would depend on the availability, which Iran has assured would be no issue, as well as on the price and technical viability of transporting through one pipeline. So far three sets of bilateral negotiations are being done — India-Iran, India-Pakistan and Iran-Pakistan.