Tapi gas line projects tech round begins

Islamabad: Only a day ahead of formal talks between Islamabad and New Delhi on Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project, a technical round on Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (Tapi) gas line project began here.

Talks held on Tapi in the past had proved a futile exercise and the officials representing Pakistan for technical round are not very confident that this time any concrete development could happen to make a difference for the project. They are of the view that technical discussion on Tapi is just for the sake of negotiations.

Talks on Tapi, that too exactly at a time when India has shown willingness to join IPI and its Oil Minister is scheduled to visit Islamabad for sorting out controversial issues, are meaningful. It clearly indicates that the US, Russia and China are pushing forward their agenda for these key gas line projects. These forces remain alert to foil any attempt or talks round which they believe was not in their interest in the region.

Asian Development Bank's announcement that it can not lend a helping hand for making IPI a reality could also be seen in the same context. ADB has made Iran's non-membership a logic to stay away from IPI, but in clear terms it looks as if ADB is pushing forward the US agenda on the project.

Pakistan badly needs some external source for meeting gas demand in the future and it is keeping IPI, Tapi and Pakistan-Qatar gas line options open. But how it can materalise them, it is yet to be seen.

IPI is not moving forward due to US opposition. Russia, which of course, will make every possible move to counter US, would not like its influence in Turkmanistan and other Central Asian Republics (CARs). This would ultimately keep Tapi a least workable option for Pakistan and other parties interested in importing gas for meeting their growing demand.