Gas pipeline deal makes headway

India, Pakistan and Iran have agreed to go ahead with negotiations to finalise the 2,100-km pipeline deal, defying US.

India, Pakistan and Iran have agreed to go ahead with negotiations to finalise the 2,100 kilometre gas pipeline deal, defying US opposition to the venture, a Qatari newspaper reported on Sunday.

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"All three of us have agreed to go ahead with the pipeline proposal," said Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora.

The meeting between Deora, Amanullah Khan Jadoon of Pakistan and Kazem Vaziri of Iran lasted for about half-an-hour, said the paper.

Deora also said that a meeting between secretaries of the three countries would be held shortly in Karachi.

Jadoon had earlier informed that the meeting was likely to be held in the first week of May.

He also said that the three countries had conducted their own studies and the cost of the project was initially estimated at $7 billion.