India Examines Implications Of Gas Pipeline From Iran Via

India is examining the implications of the proposed Indo-Iranian mega gas pipeline project passing through Pakistan.

A project of this nature and magnitude involves complex studies which have far-reaching implications. The process of examination is underway, external affairs minister I K Gujral said on arrival here yesterday to attend the ninth session of the Indo-Iran joint commission.

Gujrals statement assumes significance in the light of reports that Pakistan has declined to permit the 2000-km long pipeline to pass through its territorial waters dealing a severe blow to the prospects of the joint venture.

Iran, which feels the project is one of the most important items on the economic agenda of the two nations, would like it to be commissioned by the turn of the century given the strong political backing of both sides. However, an Indian official said the project is still in the conceptual stage.

Iran sees the gas project, which is expected to supply 50 million cubic metres of natural gas a year to India, as a shining example of regional economic cooperation.

Gujral, who was accorded a warm welcome on his arrival, said discussions between the two countries on the Indo-Iranian gas pipeline have been underway since 1993.

The Indo-Iran gas pipeline project is high on the agenda of Gujrals scheduled meetings with Iranian leaders who are expected to apprise him of Tehrans latest talks with Islamabad on the fate of the underwater feasibility study. A global consortium which conducted a feasibility study for the project had put forward five options to be considered by technical experts. The options include four routes through the sea along Pakistans coastline and a fifth route passing through Pakistan land. Although Pakistan has assured Iran that it would not block the pipeline, it insists on the pipeline passing through its land and not territorial waters.

Iran believes Pakistans offer of land route to be used for the pipeline augurs well for regional cooperation but observers here say it would amount to giving Islamabad total control the flow of gas to India.

This may not be acceptable to New Delhi on security grounds since the entire pipeline would be vulnerable to sabotage in the event of any Indo-Pak conflict. Pakistan, on the other hand, fears that India could activate its naval fleet for protection of the pipeline if it was laid under the sea.