'Gazprom to join Iran-India gas line'

Gazprom is prepared to take part in a pipeline project to link Iran's reserves to the growing Indian market.

Russia's gas monopoly Gazprom is prepared to take part in a pipeline project to link Iran's reserves to the growing Indian market, Russian news agencies quoted President Vladimir Putin as saying on Thursday.

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Putin said state-controlled Gazprom's role could include attracting finance for the gas pipeline, which would pass through Pakistan. The project has been under discussion for over a decade but progress has been slow.

"Gazprom is ready to participate, including in terms of financing, in implementing this project, especially as a project like this can pay for itself," Itar-Tass news agency quoted Putin as saying in Shanghai.

Putin is attending a regional summit in the Chinese city. The Indian-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir has been one of the obstacles holding up the pipeline project.