Press-ECO - Pipeline

IRNA - 6/26 - The pipeline projects through Afghanistan to the sea outlet in   

Pakistan have still not got off the ground largely because of the    

continued Afghan conflict. It appears that with regard to the proposed

gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Pakistan, two options are under    

consideration: a pipeline either through Afghanistan or one through  

Iran/Afghanistan. With regard to the proposed gas pipeline from Iran 

via Pakistan which would supply gas to India also, Pakistan's        

readiness to provide guarantees in accordance with the international 

practices is still held up because of Indian reservations on political

and security grounds.                                                

    The Central Asian states have not yet shaken off the old Russian 

pattern of economic direction and international trade. Six of the ten

ECO states are land-locked. As air transport is expensive and direct 

maritime outlet is not available for the six of them, road and rail  

links, within and outside the region, assume added urgency.          

    Except for Turkmenistan, the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan     

impedes easy communication with the remaining four Central Asian     

states. The export of electricity by Tajikistan to Pakistan is held up

for the same reason.                                                  

    Russia is understandably opposed to any change in the system of  

pipelines and transit routes imposed on Central Asian during the     

Soviet rule, because it is bent on retaining the area as its immediate

sphere of influence and because of the significant royalties in      

foreign exchange that it earns under the existing dispensation.      

    Russian influence has therefore been used directly or indirectly 

to block any significant ECO initiatives for regional cooperation.