IPI Gas Pipeline

I was reading the newspaper today morning, when i noticed the article titled ‘UPA should avoid double standards’. My recent interest in world affairs, led me to reading the article from top to bottom. After going through the article, i started to browse the net regarding IPI, of which i have heard, but not in detail. Below are my findings which seem quite astounding.

IPI is the abbreviation of Iran Pakistan India gas pipeline. Everyone knows that the South Pars/North Dome field in Iran and Qatar is the largest gas field in the world. But i was surprised to note that the proposal of the project was established in the year 1989. It has been nearly 19 years since that, and yet things are seemingly at crossroads even now.

Year after year a new reason has been sounded by India leading to the delay of the project. In the current UPA regime, it was initially unrest in Balochistan, then it was the tense situation in Pakistan and now it is the 123 agreement.

India had been warned by US that, if it goes ahead with the IPI project, then it can kiss farewell to the 123 agreement. This was due to the tension between US and Iran. But US, of late has seemed to realize the growing strength of Iran in todays situation and is keen to make amends. In fact Mr. Bush is trying to reestablish a communication between the two countries. So if the US is willing to partner Iran, i think the latest hassle has been crossed. And before any new breed develops, it is time for the government to sign the deal.

The threat of the deal evaporating increases exponentially with time. China which is in a situation similar to India has offered to replace India in case of the deal falling out. European nations are turning towards Iran to provide fuel for their economy. So in todays changing politics, it will be all the better for India to go ahead with the plan which will supply Natural Gas to quench our ever growing economy.

I do hope i am right in my thought All these are based on a single article and a few minutes of browsing the net. I look forward to your comments, which will enlighten me.

India – SuperPower 2020?

I have started to read the newspaper every day for quite some time, ie other than the sports page. Having always kept myself informed of the current President, Prime Minister, the ruling party and also a bit of other political things, i assumed myself to be updated. Only after having studied the press clippings have i realized my mistake.

For example, i didn’t even know of India’s position as a rising power. Until i read the papers. This activity has lead to a few doubts arising in my mind. Is India really as powerful as our politicians and media project it to be. Can it lay a serious challenge for world supremacy by the year 2020. Can we indeed become a developed nation as Dr. Abdul Kalam dreams by then.

My personal feeling is that, our gentle neighbor to the north, China poses a more significant threat to the US. Furthermore, the mutual enmity between the US and Russia might lead to Russia teaming up with China. As i understand, at present, India faces a huge dilemma. Should it align with the US, to whom it has been yielding under pressure for quite a while now. Or should it align with China and Russia, who as a team can wield a bat as heavy as Sachin used before his tennis elbow problem. I am not talking about a World War. Rather i am talking about diplomatic stances which is like the only path to survival.

I am rather new at commenting on such topics, but i do invite your comments as to India’s current position as a growing powerhouse.