Pakistan urges India to join Iran gas network

[Marxist]

Pakistan on Tuesday exhorted India to push ahead with talks with Iran to agree a controversial pipeline that would supply Iranian gas to the two south Asian countries.

Pakistan and India have held talks with Tehran to buy natural gas through a proposed $7.6b pipeline to help alleviate severe power shortages. But the plan has been opposed by the U.S., which is seeking to apply international pressure on Iran to abandon its nuclear program, and was set back by the terror strike on Mumbai in 2008 by Pakistani militants.

Shahid Malik, Islamabad’s top diplomat to Delhi, said Pakistan would welcome India joining the so-called “peace pipeline”. Businesspeople in the region view the proposed energy partnership as a major step towards ending the enmity that has prevailed between the two neighbors since the end of the British rule 63 years ago.

“We have signed an agreement with Iran, and we would welcome India’s participation if it wants to

[do the same],” Mr. Malik said at a rare Indo-Pakistan business meeting in Delhi.

The envoy’s comments came as SM Krishna, India’s foreign minister, held talks with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran’s president, about bilateral cooperation and regional stability. Bilateral trade currently stands at $14b a year. The comments also follow a positive meeting between Manmohan Singh, India’s prime minister, and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani, earlier this month. The talks paved the way for visits to Pakistan by Palaniappan Chidambaram, India’s home minister, and Mr. Krishna.

The ambitious pipeline project, which aims to feed the growing energy needs of India’s fast growing economy, has made slow progress due to political tensions between India and Pakistan and differences between New Delhi and Tehran over the latter's controversial nuclear program. There has also been disagreement over gas pricing and delivery.

Pakistan signed agreements last month with Iran to implement the pipeline project. It has offered since to guarantee the safety of gas supply to India and proposed that India take an equity stake in the section of the pipeline that runs through its territory.

Lower cost transit trade between Asia’s third largest economy and central Asia is highly prized by New Delhi. Pranab Mukherjee, India’s finance minister, on Tuesday appealed to Islamabad to allow Indian trade to transit its territory to help with the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Mr. Malik said this proposal was under discussion in Islamabad.

tehran times : Pakistan urges India to join Iran gas network

 

[satishkumarcsc]

Seems like it is going to be Pakistan who will gain from the pipeline. Seems China has pulled out of the deal.

 

[Ali.009]

Yes, India should join and once the gas start flowing, we'll be on the same position india today has on our rightful waters! Go India Go and we'll teach you a lesson.

 

[IndianArmy]

Yes, India should join and once the gas start flowing, we'll be on the same position india today has on our rightful waters! Go India Go and we'll teach you a lesson.

We wont create a false propaganda Saying You stopped our Gas supply. Dont worry...

 

[SpArK]

Yes, India should join and once the gas start flowing, we'll be on the same position india today has on our rightful waters! Go India Go and we'll teach you a lesson.

Lesson?? Please elaborate.

How much is it different from the present scenario.

There is no gas going through any pipes now and we are not suffering or learning any lessons.

If pipes are blocked the ones who will be suffering are the producers and the distribution channels not the end users.

 

[KS]

Yes, India should join and once the gas start flowing, we'll be on the same position india today has on our rightful waters! Go India Go and we'll teach you a lesson.

Hey Kid....that action of Pakistan will only give validity for India to block ur waters.Remeber we have the mechanisms in place..All we need is a good reason to do it.

We have other sources for oil.Do u have other sources for ur water..?

Think and u ll get the answer.

 

[SpArK]

Hey Kid....that action of Pakistan will only give validity for India to block ur waters.Remeber we have the mechanisms in place..All we need is a good reason to do it.

We have other sources for oil.Do u have other sources for ur water..?

Think and u ll get the answer.

What other source.??/

We already are one of the Iran's best customer with or without the pipeline.

Iranian oil accounted for nearly 16.5% of India's crude oil imports. Indian oil imports from Iran increased by 9.5% in 2008-09 due to which Iran emerged as India's second largest oil supplier. About 40% of the refined oil consumed by Iran is imported from India.

 

[Patt_polayadi]

Yes, India should join and once the gas start flowing, we'll be on the same position india today has on our rightful waters! Go India Go and we'll teach you a lesson.

What a dumb *** statement....it looks as if Pakistan is doing India a favour..btw Pak also gets transit fee, and if cut off..pak also suffers badly..becoze they r the ones who invests & build the pipeline in their territory...and thr r international treaties to take care of if Pak cuts off oil flowing to INDIA..and Iranians are not going to sit quite if this happens..Even this pipeline project may not be that feasible without Indias cooperation as End user..DID U UNDERSTAND ?

 

[Mirza Jatt]

Yes, India should join and once the gas start flowing, we'll be on the same position india today has on our rightful waters! Go India Go and we'll teach you a lesson.

same position ??? any idea what you wrote ???

 

[KS]

What other source.??/

We already are one of the Iran's best customer with or without the pipeline.

There u go..u ve answered ur question urself.

I said we dont need the pipeline to do business with Iran.So even if they block the pipelines,we can still go by the traditional container route.
But if we block the water..wat they do..?go for container from other countries or import it thru pipelines..?? -NOTHING - .

Iranian oil accounted for nearly 16.5% of India's crude oil imports. Indian oil imports from Iran increased by 9.5% in 2008-09 due to which Iran emerged as India's second largest oil supplier. About 40% of the refined oil consumed by Iran is imported from India.

India's largest oil importing source is Saudi..not Iran.
Also gas we import in the form of LNG from QATAR.


My main point is...for oil we not desperately dependent on the pipeline.But Pakistan is dependent on the Indus.
Hope u got wat i meant.

 

[Bushy]

Yes, India should join and once the gas start flowing, we'll be on the same position india today has on our rightful waters! Go India Go and we'll teach you a lesson.

Inadvertently, or deliberately... this guy has brought the hidden fears to the fore here. India is very keen on getting gas from Iran. But this gas, if comes through Pakistan will certainly give them (Pakistanis) a strong card to play in the times of war.

Indians here may not want to agree with me, but the fact remains that the waters flowing through India to Pakistan give an upper hand to India and always remain a useful tool to pull strings in the times of war. Every nation linked with India and Pakistan realizes this fact, and this is the only reason why Pakistan always frowns at the dams built in India. But what can Pakistan do about it, is altogether a different matter.

Pakistan signed agreements last month with Iran to implement the pipeline project. It has offered since to guarantee the safety of gas supply to India and proposed that India take an equity stake in the section of the pipeline that runs through its territory.

Hence, unlike the usual portrayal of shortage of water in Pakistan, it is actually the fear of water getting plugged from the Indian side, because when there is an all out war between two countries, all the treaties between them become null and void. (Be it Indus, or the IPI).

So, if by any chance India becomes dependent on the gas coming through Pakistan, Pakistan will, very rightfully, plug the pipes choking the much needed source of gas coming to India (of course, only in the decisive times of war). That is the sole reason why India wants an international entity (or at the least, Iran) responsible for continuous flow of gas through Pakistan.

So ultimately everything about this pipeline boils down to the units of gas India may want to be dependent upon, because greater the dependency, lower the chances of war, and higher the number terrorism related activities in India.

It sure may look far-fetched for now, but seeing India's dependence on Pakistan to protect the pipeline, the terrorists based in Pakistan may feel motivated to carry out more and more strikes in India.

If India does want this pipeline to work, it would help to have a powerful international entity monitor the flow. Otherwise, India's investments will help no one but Pakistan.

 

[RobbieS]

The realist in me wins over the peacenik..going by the geo-political situation, this is simply impossible. Two reasons -
a) The defence establishment in India would never allow a vital fuel source to be routed through a hostile country. Imagine a scenario where India is at war and Pak blocks the pipeline. We would then have to pay through our noses for Arab oil or even worse, end up losing the war.

b) Even if the two countries sign a binding accord that no country shall willingly disrupt supply, there are far too many non-state actors inimical to India's interests in Pakistan and they wouldn't let go of an opportunity to hurt India.

 

[Ali.009]

A few 20 pound bombs would be enough to destroy the Indian barrages and dams which are being used to control water, and gushing water will sink up half of indian lands and there is no way India will be able to build the dams back within next 15 years. So in times of war, India is at loss as always, the Chinka-influnced indian polciy makers might have learned some the art of deception, but they still have little brains to see far away.

On the other hand, the precious gas will bring the Indian machinery to an immediate halt. Our pro-indian corrupt government is also doing something cool, they dont even know themselves.

a) The defence establishment in India would never allow a vital fuel source to be routed through a hostile country.

Open up your eyes, it was recently that Indian government backed-off from the pipe-line thingy because of monetary issues, they coudnt agree with the rates. Othervise they are not smart enough like you are, a country where half of the spies turn their backs on their own establishment have some serious flaws.

 

[RobbieS]

A few 20 pound bombs would be enough to destroy the Indian barrages and dams which are being used to control water, and gushing water will sink up half of indian lands and there is no way India will be able to build the dams back within next 15 years. So in times of war, India is at loss as always, the Chinka-influnced indian polciy makers might have learned some the art of deception, but they still have little brains to see far away.

On the other hand, the precious gas will bring the Indian machinery to an immediate halt. Our pro-indian corrupt government is also doing something cool, they dont even know themselves.

Open up your eyes, it was recently that Indian government backed-off from the pipe-line thingy because of monetary issues, they coudnt agree with the rates. Othervise they are not smart enough like you are, a country where half of the spies turn their backs on their own establishment have some serious flaws.

I hope you dont mind if I excuse myself from this discussion with you. Your comments seem to display an intellectual capacity divergent to my mind's scope. I wouldnt be able to muster up as much deep hate, vitriol and pure lack of common sense as you seem to display above. But please don't let me stop you and do carry on.

 

[RobbieS]

Yes, you are free to run away. My posts present far more common sense then yours. And talk about hate? Theres a famous saying "Bagal mein Churri and Mo mein Ram Ram" - Its about those who belong to hindu religion. They are famous for talking about peace on face but when you turn around, they stab you with a long dagger. They dont even have guts to stab you in this face. History is the written and documented proof of this mentality. Its a plain simple fact.

It sums up all your peaceful chankia mentality.

Since I believe you are talking about all Hindus, I wonder how Hindus living in Pakistan would feel about that.