NEW DELHI�India's Foreign Ministry today announced a high-ranking government delegation is on its way to Tehran to forge the first joint committee to discuss the transportation of gas from Iran to India.
The Indian lobby group, says the Iranian News Agency, is led by Indian First Deputy Foreign Minister for Eastern Affairs K.V. Rajan and includes officials from the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Oil, and Defense.
The prospect of a trans-Pakistan gas pipeline tops the agenda for the 3-day meeting.
Explaining the prime motivation for the pipeline from Iran to India, an Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman stated: "�As Iran is enjoying rich energy resources, India's need for energy is also increasing, owing to its burgeoning economy."
Last month, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific Affairs Mohsen Aminzadeh told New Delhi that his government had been "given assurances" by Pakistani officials regarding the feasibility of the proposed pipeline. Aminzadeh called the pipeline "an important economic issue."
