ISLAMABAD (Agencies) -- Petroleum officials of India and Pakistan would hold two-day talks beginning from February 22 here to discuss the issues relating to Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project.

A ten-member Indian delegation headed by Petroleum Secretary, M.S. Srinavasan is due to hold talks with their Pakistan counterparts on laying of the pipes, transit fee and issues relating to security of the pipeline from Iranian border to that of India, officials here said.

Iran would attend the meeting as an observer, they said.

The talks follow Pakistan accepting the 4.93 dollars million British thermal unit (mBtu) price offered by Iran during the trilateral talks held in Tehran last month.

India too favorably considered the price and the Indian officials were expected to discuss Pakistan terms.

The 2,100-km-long pipeline costing about seven billion dollars was not viewed favorably by the United States, which has publicly expressed strong reservations in view of its current standoff with Iran over Tehran's nuclear programme.

Meanwhile according to IRNA India is keen on carrying out the Iran- Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in a recent interview.

Excerpts of the interview of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were published by Corriere della Sera, an Italian-based English newspaper, on Friday. When asked if the pipeline was a good idea given that the United States did not approve of the proposal, Singh said: "We are in dire need of energy and we are keen on carrying out this project. The negotiations are proceeding."