India-Iran-Pakistan
Pakistan has said the ambitious multi- billion-dollar Iran gas pipeline project makes "more economic sense" if New Delhi is on board and argued that it could also serve as an "incentive for stability" in the region.

"If India is on board the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project, it makes all the more economic sense," Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Thursday said while answering questions at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, in London, after delivering a lecture, zeenews portal reported.

Noting that India is also deficient in energy, Qureshi said "both stand to gain (from the pipeline)." "It can be used as a confidence building measure," he stated.

In his address, Qureshi said "South Asia is also gravely affected by the energy crisis.

The worldwide quest for accelerated growth in industry, services and agriculture gives rise to increase in demand for energy.

"In this context Pakistan is seeking to pursue international gas pipeline options, with which we hope we will position ourselves as an energy hub for South Asia and possibly China through the port of Gwadar."

"We have a planned gas pipeline from Iran, crossing Pakistan and heading on to India. This project offers not just energy to both nations but could also serve as an incentive for stability in the region. Another pipeline project is from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan into Pakistan and, possibly, onward to India." 2160**1420