Pakistan's Ambassador to Iran has announced his country's full support for Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas deal known as 'peace pipeline'.

Pervez Musharraf's government has not yielded to the political pressures over the deal, as it is an economic issue, Shafqat Saeed told ISNA.

We have proposed Iran that if India withdraws from the project the purchased gas would be carried to China through pipeline, he noted.

Pakistan has authorized export of Iran's gas to China, India, Nepal or any other country through an LNG facility currently under construction, he said.

Russia's Gazprom has established a branch office in Islamabad to participate in IPI project and Pakistan's Interstate Gas Co. is to supervise the operations, added Saeed.

During the interview made on the sidelines of the ceremony marking the anniversary of Kashmir's separation from Pakistan, he said that the deal is expected to be clinched in 2-3 months.

MPR/RA