<p>Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will not be at the signing of the "inter-governmental agreement" as he will be on a three-day visit to Belgium to participate in an India-EU summit.<br /><br />Petroleum Minister Murli Deora will lead the Indian delegation to Ashgabat.<br /><br />The 1640-km TAPI pipeline will pass through volatile Afghan territory to link with Pakistan's national gas network near Multan. It will terminate at Fazilka in India.<br /><br />The four countries will ink two agreements that will cover operational aspects and give political backing for the proposed pipeline.<br /><br />The TAPI project, conceived in 1995, was initially designed to provide gas from Turkmenistan to Pakistan through Afghanistan.<br /><br />India was later invited to join the project in 2008.<br /><br />Zardari will hold bilateral meetings with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and discuss the strengthening of ties in all spheres.<br /><br />Petroleum Minister Naveed Qamar will ink an agreement on the "Gas Pipeline Framework Agreement" at Ashgabat on December 10. The pact has already been approved by Pakistan's cabinet.<br /><br />Under the project, Pakistan will get 30 billion cubic meters of gas a year. It has indicated that in case India backs out of the project at any stage, it will be willing to purchase additional gas.<br /><br />Turkmenistan has the world's fourth largest proven reserves of gas and is already providing gas to Russia and China.<br /><br />Following the inking of the pacts, international bids will be sought from energy companies to launch the project that is likely to be completed by 2014.<br /><br />Ashgabat is likely to include the Southern Yoloten-Osman and Dovletabad gas fields in the project to ensure regular supply.<br /><br />Pakistan is expected to offer assistance to develop these gas fields.</p>
<p>Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will not be at the signing of the "inter-governmental agreement" as he will be on a three-day visit to Belgium to participate in an India-EU summit.<br /><br />Petroleum Minister Murli Deora will lead the Indian delegation to Ashgabat.<br /><br />The 1640-km TAPI pipeline will pass through volatile Afghan territory to link with Pakistan's national gas network near Multan. It will terminate at Fazilka in India.<br /><br />The four countries will ink two agreements that will cover operational aspects and give political backing for the proposed pipeline.<br /><br />The TAPI project, conceived in 1995, was initially designed to provide gas from Turkmenistan to Pakistan through Afghanistan.<br /><br />India was later invited to join the project in 2008.<br /><br />Zardari will hold bilateral meetings with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and discuss the strengthening of ties in all spheres.<br /><br />Petroleum Minister Naveed Qamar will ink an agreement on the "Gas Pipeline Framework Agreement" at Ashgabat on December 10. The pact has already been approved by Pakistan's cabinet.<br /><br />Under the project, Pakistan will get 30 billion cubic meters of gas a year. It has indicated that in case India backs out of the project at any stage, it will be willing to purchase additional gas.<br /><br />Turkmenistan has the world's fourth largest proven reserves of gas and is already providing gas to Russia and China.<br /><br />Following the inking of the pacts, international bids will be sought from energy companies to launch the project that is likely to be completed by 2014.<br /><br />Ashgabat is likely to include the Southern Yoloten-Osman and Dovletabad gas fields in the project to ensure regular supply.<br /><br />Pakistan is expected to offer assistance to develop these gas fields.</p>