NEW DELHI, Feb 17: Petroleum ministers of Pakistan and India gave their unequivocal support on Friday to the proposed gas pipeline from Iran, saying neither fears about trouble in Balochistan nor the raising of international finances for the project were an issue.

Officials asserted after Friday’s talks between Petroleum Minister Amanullah Khan Jadoon and his Indian counterpart Murli Deora that political fears emanating from the US opposition to the pipeline appeared to have been exaggerated.

The view was bolstered by support for the project conveyed to Mr Jadoon by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who took time out from parliament for the meeting.

The two ministers addressed a joint news conference which was marked by moments of humour and banter.

“This is a pipeline for progress and friendship of all three countries,” Mr Deora quoted the prime minister as telling the guest.

Dr Singh later told parliament more or less the same thing, adding that the project was being studied by international consultants who would shape it before mobilization of resources begun.

In reply to a question, Mr Deora said international bodies and private players were ready with the required money.

Mr Jadoon allayed Indian fears that troubles in Balochistan and occasional blasting of pipelines by violent groups elsewhere would affect the security of the project.

“Pakistan is serviced by a 10,000km network of gas pipelines,” he said. “There have been unfortunate incidents here and there, but our main arterial conduit has remained untouched. So we are confident and remain undeterred.”

Islamabad endorsed India’s full membership in the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan pipeline project. “It is TAP today, but soon it would be TAPI,” Mr Jadoon disclosed.

A joint statement after the talks charted the road ahead, including the option for a submarine pipeline conduit from Qatar.

The statement said the two ministers met in order “to carry forward the dialogue between the two countries on the Iran-Pakistan-India3 Gas Pipeline Project.”

In his meeting with the Pakistani minister, “the prime minister conveyed the fullest support of the Indian government to the project. Both the prime minister and the Pakistani petroleum minister agreed that the project was of vital importance to both countries as it would not only serve the economic development interests of the peoples of the three countries involved with the project, but it would also serve to bring them closer together.”

Pakistani and Indian delegations had detailed discussions on the project. The ministers noted with satisfaction that since the initiation of dialogue between the three countries concerned in June 2005, through the mechanism of bilateral joint working groups, there had been considerable progress.

In this regard they welcomed the meeting of Indian, Pakistani and Iranian technical officials in New Delhi on Jan 30-31, when they had participated in an international workshop on pipeline technology and then held discussions in the tripartite technical sub-working group on various aspects of the project.

It was agreed that the outstanding technical issues would be pursued at the next tripartite technical sub-working group meeting in Islamabad in March.

The two delegations had in-depth discussions on various aspects of the project, including project structure and the price of gas.

The two sides agreed that these important issues had to be resolved consensually as quickly as possible so that a tripartite framework agreement could be finalized.

The two ministers noted with satisfaction that India had participated for the first time as an ‘observer’ in the 9th meeting of the steering committee of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan project. The Pakistani minister welcomed the participation of India in the project as a full member.

The two sides agreed to pursue the Gulf-South Asia pipeline project from Qatar.