What is TAPI Gas Pipeline?

A 1680 km pipeline from Turkmenistan Afghanistan Pakistan India (TAPI)

Itll beome operational b! "018#
It $ill arr! %0 million metri standard ubi meters a da! for a &0 !ear
period#
India to pa! a transit fee to Pakistan and Afghanistan as the pipeline passes
through these nations#
Route of this pipeline
The pipeline starts from the 'auletabad (il )elds in Turkmenistan and $ill
mo*e into Afghanistan along a high$a! running from +erat to ,andahar and it
$ill then enter Pakistan *ia -uetta. /ultan and from there to 0a1ilka (loated
at the Indo2Pak border) in India#
What does Turkmenistan gain from this?
Turkmenistan holds 3 perent of the gas reser*es of the $orld# It onl! e4ports
gas to 5ussia. but $ith the TAPI pipeline. it $ill be able to di*ersif! its e4ports
to nations like India. Pakistan#
Turkmenistan $ill earn a lot of re*enue b! e4porting gas through the pipeline
What does Pakistan & Afghanistan Gain?
/oreo*er the potential e4tension of the pipeline to the 6a$adar Port in
Pakistan $ill enable Pakistan to e4port gas to se*eral ountries#
Afghanistan $ill earn transit fees as the pipeline passes through the
ountr!#
What is in for India?
India $ill bene)t a lot as it $ill reei*e &8 million standard ubi meters of gas
per da! impro*ing Indias energ! seurit!#
7e$ opportunities to the de*elopment of gas and engineering industries of
the ountries in*ol*ed in the pro8et#
The pro8et $ill also help to foster regional onneti*it! bet$een the ountries
in*ol*ed. thus resulting in regional integration#
Whatre the Obstacles to TAPI pipeline
1# 5egional instabilit!. espeiall! in the A02PA, region ontinues to haunt the
pipeline# The planned route of the 1800 km pipeline $ill pass through 9&: km
of southern and $estern Afghanistan. regions $hih are hotbeds of terrorism#
/oreo*er $ith the proposed $ithdra$al of 7AT( (espeiall! ;<) fores from
Afghanistan. the abilit! of Afghanistan to maintain its seurit! omes into
=uestion#
"# The pipeline $ill also pass through Pakistans south$estern >alohistan
Pro*ine. a region su?ering from separatist and setarian *iolene for the
past % !ears# /oreo*er poorl! guarded oil@gas pipelines in the region ha*e
been fa*ourite targets of ethni >aluh separatists )ghting the Pakistan arm!#
&# An! une4peted rupture in Indo2Pakistan relationships an put the TAPI
pro8et into 8eopard!#
3# A lot of mone! is needed to )nane this pro8et# The ost of the pro8et is
estimated to be 1" billion 'ollars# Asian 'e*elopment >ank has alread!
pro*ided a fe$ million 'ollars as tehnial assistane. ho$e*er more mone!
is re=uired to )nane this ostl! pro8et. $hih is diAult to get as foreign
in*estors (/7Bs. oil ompanies) are $ar! of in*esting in the A02PA, region#
Teesta Controversy
Geography
Teesta originates from ,angse 6laier. Bharamu Cake in <ikkim. most of its
athment area lies in India#
It enters >angladesh. 8oins >rahmaputra. and ends in >a! of >engal#
After >rahmapurta. 6anges and /eghnaD Teesta is the 3th largest ri*er in
>angladesh#
Sequence of events
E#>engal go*ernment began onstruting a barrage and athment area
on Teesta#
>angladesh opposed. beause their Frie bo$lG 5angpur region depends
on Teesta#
To paif! them. India began negotiation#
1%8&H India2 >angladesh onluded and ad2ho agreement on Teesta
Shares
India2&%I .>ang2&6 I . ;nalloated H":I
But problem unsolved, because Bangladesh wanted equal sharing.
1%83H Joint2ri*er ommission appointed to ollet h!drologial data K
suggest a rational method for $ater sharing#
Bommission reommended inreasing >angladeshs share. on logi that
E#>engals barrage is *er! lose to >angladesh border (L%0 km)# <ome
$ater $ill penetrate underground and bene)t both ountries an!$a!s#
New formula proposed
India23"#:I .>angladesh 2&9#:I . ;nalloated H"0I
(other$ise nothing $ill reah oean)
Sept-20
/ohan plans to *isit >angladesh. sign aords for Teesta and Cand border
disputes#
+e in*ited )*e state B/ that share border $ith >angladesh. to 8oin him in
this *isit#
>ut on ele*enth hour. E#>engal B/ /amata >aner8ee dropped from this
*isit to protest against Teesta sharing agreement#
!amatas Position
This treat! $ill dr! out 7orthern region of E#>engal K hurt Indian farmers#
1%%8H >angladeshs largest irrigation pro8et FTeesta >arrageG began# Eith
help of this $ater. >angladeshi farmers alread! ha*e three ropping seasons
per !ear#
<o. the! dont deser*e an! more $ater#
At that time. Trinmool Bongress $as the single largest oalition partner in
;PA. therefore /ohan had to drop the Teesta aord# +e ould onl! sign Cand
boundar! agreement $ith >angladesh#
!arch-20"
>I/<TMB summit at 7a! P!i Ta$#
/ohan assured +aseena about earl! onlusion of Teesta aord#
Q!arl" conclusion of Teesta accord is in the strate#ic interest of
India !laborate $%&& words'
Teesta originates from <ikkim K 8oins >ramhaputra in >angladesh# It is an
important irrigation soure for padd! farmers on both sides#
In the 80s. India K >angladesh signed ad2ho agreement to share &%I K
&6I of Teesta $ater respeti*el!#
Cater. Joint ri*er $ater ommission $as setup to ollet h!drologial data
K suggest a rational method for $ater sharing#
"011H 7e$ formula proposed2 India K >angladesh to get 3"#:I and &9#:I
respeti*el!#
>ut due to opposition from Eest >engal state go*ernment. and its B/
being the single largest oalition partner in ;PA. this deal ould not
materiali1e during P/ /anmohan <inghs oAial *isit to >angladesh in "011#
"013H >angladeshi M4tremist out)ts like Jamaat2e2Islami ha*e tied $ith
(pposition leader ,halida Nia# The! began large sale protests K politial
mobili1ation against urrent P/ <heikh +asina. for her failure to arr! out
Teesta aord. hurting Padd! farmers K FsellingG their ountr! to India#
In past. Jamaat2ud2'a$a K +a)1 <aeed ha*e used similar propaganda
tatis to promote hatred among Pakistanis against Indian dams#
P/ +asina is an important all! of India# <he has adopted 1ero tolerane
poli! against Anti2Indian terror out)ts# (nl! under her regime. +uJI terror
leaders $ere arrested. ;C0A $as banned K its hief Paresh >arua $as
a$arded death penalt!#
Eithout suh liberal2seular regimes in neighboring ountries. India annot
beome terror2free#
Therefore India needs to take proati*e steps for earl! onlusion of Teesta
agreement. to sho$ itself as a good neighbor and pre*ent resurgene of
e4tremist parties in neighborhood#
BHUTAN
India Bhutan Love & Hate over HYDR !"#R
1# >hutanese eonom! is based on agriulture. forestr! and tourism# >ut
ma8or of 6'P omes from onstrution and h!dro2eletriit!#
"# India is the onl! FimporterG of >hutanese +!droeletriit!#
&# Ee also suppl! them >hutan laborers. food imports and defense
e=uipment#
3# >ut relations turned sour during pre*ious P/ Jigme Thinle!s inlination
to$ards Bhina#
Chinese Ang$e
"008H Bhina begins >order settlement talks $ith >hutan#
Bhina asked >hutan to gi*e ":0 s=#km from 7orth >hutan# And o?ered to
gi*e :00 s=#km area from Bhina in return#
>ut this smaller ":0 s=#km area is in Bhumbi *alle!2 Otri28untion of
>hutan. India and Bhina#
If Bhina sets up base here. the! an easil! penetrate India and ut o?
7orth Mastern India from rest of the ountr!#
0ortunatel! >hutan go*ernment delined the o?er#
"01"H 5I(P"0 summit# Bhinese leaders again made o?er P/ Jigme Thinle!
. he responded positi*el!#
India a$ar%ed& 'egins (tea)hing $esson* to Bhutan
1# ;ntil no$ $e ga*e FAid@donationG to >hutan for building their +!droplants#
>ut no$ $e stopped gi*ing free aid# (nl! FloansG for >hutan#
"# <topped kerosene and ooking gas subsid!#
&# <ubprime risisQR delined tourists# 6'P stagnates# 7o mone! to repa!
Indian loans#
3# <o far >hutan P/ ompleted onl! & +!dro pro8et Q not suAient
prodution to o*er the osts#
:# Bannot gi*e an! more subsid! on ,erosene and ooking gas QR>hutanese
8untaa protests# "01& 6eneral eletion in >hutan. the! *ote ne$ Prime
/inister Tshering Thogba!#
PM Tshering Thogbay visits India & promises Ill remain in my aukaat, will not ta!e any
decision against Indian security interests." India is satis#ied, and stops teaching lesson
1# Announed 5s#:00 rore eonomi aid# (aidQdont ha*e to repa! loan
prinipal @ interest#)
"# 5estored subsid! on kerosene and ooking gas
&# Promised additional +MP pro8ets $ith help of Indian publi setor
undertaking#
Sino-#ndia $%&A Pact
QWhat are the salient features of (order )efense *ooperation A#reement
$()*A' a#reement between India+*hina? ,ow will it benefit Indian side? $%&&
words'
'eatures
$nder Border %e#ense &ooperation 'greement (B%&'), Both sides will *+
1# follo$ ma4imum self2restrain.
"# Eill not use militar! apabilities against eah other
&# Eill a*oid patrolling along suh border areas. $here there is no
ommon understanding of CAB (Cine of Atual Bontrol)
3# Eill ooperate during natural disaster. anti2smuggling. anti2
narotis. anti2poahing operations
:# Assist in loating men and animals that mistakenl! ross the border#
6# Information sharing about militar! e4erises
9# >oth an initiate 8oint2militar! training e4eriseQR In 7o*#"013. there $ill
be F+and2in2+andG ounter2terrorism e4erise at$arrackpore (Eest >engal)#
8# 0lag meeting on borders
%# regular meetings bet$een high oAials K 'efense ministers
10# In*ite eah other for elebration of an! national@ militar! da!@
festi*al @sports e*ent on CAB
11# +old India2Bhina Annual 'efense 'ialogue#
$ene(ts to #ndian side
1# Eill ha*e to spend less man and material resoures to guard <ino2
Indian border#
"# This agreement an smooth path to$ards peaeful settlement of
border disputes
&# Eill impro*e bilateral relations# This on)dene building measure
an also e4pend to eonomi ooperation
3# A distant possibilit!. (sine there are no permanent friends or foe in
diploma!) if goodfaith is established. Bhina ma! stop arming Pakistan
against India#
:# 5egular /eetings bet$een defense ministers and oAials. $ill lear
misunderstanding on man! issues. that other$ise result in random
onfrontation bet$een patrolling soldiers#
'AT&A Treat) #ndia *S
%iscuss in +rief, the sa-ient features and +ene(ts of
#ndo-*S 'AT&A agreement .200 /ords0
"010H Amerian Bongress enated 0oreign Aount Ta4 ompliane At
(0ATBA) to keep a tab on Amerian iti1ens and ompanies in*esting abroad
to e*ade ta4es#
To implement this At. ;< 6o*ernment signs inter2go*ernmental
agreement (I6A) $ith the other ountries. to get information about Amerian
in*estors#
"013. AprilH India and ;<A signed an 0ATBA2I6A agreement#
'eatures
1# Eill ome in e?et from 1st Jul! "013#
"# All Indian 0inanial intermediaries (>anks. mutual funds. insurane os
et#) $ill ha*e to keep reord of Amerian in*estors2 not 8ust ;< iti1ens but
e*en ;< green ard holders and ;< residents#
&# These Amerian in*estors $ill be lassi)ed in three ategoriesH
ABB(;7T EIT+
Cess than S:0.000 2 M4empted from reporting
Abo*e S:0.0002 India $ill share their information to ;<As I5< (internal
re*enue ser*ie) through B>'T (Bentral >oard of 'iret Ta4es)
Q. What is MFN? What benefits could Indian gain by MFN-status in Pakistan? Why
hasnt the deal materialied yet? !"## $ords%
!eaning?
T/ost 0a*oured 7ation status is the )rst step to$ards trade agreements
bet$een t$o ountries#
/07 means e*er! time a ountr! lo$ers a trade barrier for its most
fa*oured nation. then it has to do treat all its trading partners in the same
manner U $hether rih or poor. $eak or strong. large or small#
$ene(ts?
In 1%%9. India granted /07 status to Pakistan. but the! ha*e not
reiproated bak#
Pakistan still maintains a negati*e list of L1000 thousand items that India
annot e4port. inluding agriultural goods. te4tile and automobile parts#
If Pakistan ga*e /07 status to India. $e ould e4port these items in their
domesti market#
Thus. /07 status an failitate eonomi prosperit! and betterment of
relations# The eonomi2interdependen! ma! also tha$ing tension bet$een
India2Pak#
Wh) sta--ed?
As suh. Pakistan $as to grant the /07 status to India b! 'eember "01"#
>ut the proess got dela!ed due to ati*e lobb!ing b! Pakistans agriultural
groups. te4tile and automobile industries# 30I of the Pakistani $orkfore is
emplo!ed in Te4tile industr! alone# The! fear the Vood of Indian goods $ill
render them 8obless#
The instable politial situation and tension at the Indo2Pak border ha*e
further aggra*ated the situation and dela!ed the onsensus#
Although Pakistan high ommissioner has assured /07 status $ill be gi*en
after the formation of ne$ go*ernment#
+ri Lan,a Reso$ution- India A'stains
Q% &iscuss Indias stand on the latest 'N()* resolution against +ri ,anka. &o you agree
that India has fully changed its foreign -olicy on +ri ,anka $ith this? !"## $ords%
"##. /Prabhakaran killed. ,001-+ri ,ankan *i2il $ar ends. 0otal 34 lakh died in a ci2il
$ar that lasted more than "5 years.
"#4# /India gi2es 6### cr. for rehabilitation of 0amils in Northern +ri ,anka. Pro7ects for
housing8 -o$er-lant and ()&.
"#44 /
,essons ,earnt and )econciliation *ommission re-ort !,,)*%/
+ri ,ankan go2ernment had a--ointed this commission.
0his 9sarkaari: commission says- hardly any human rights 2iolation by +ri ,ankan
army. ;ust fe$ crimes by indi2iduals soldiers.
<a2e recommendation for 0amil rehab.
=ut $e all kno$ the sacred rule of forming committees> their re-ort M'+0 N?0 be
im-lemented.
'+@8 'N()* consider this 7unk re-ort and $ant fresh international inAuiry. !"#4B%
=ut India belie2es C lets 7ust im-lement this re-ort and mo2e on.
@gain - "#44/
'N re-ort says thousands of ci2ilians killed because of go2ernment shellingDbombing.
,ankan army defends saying 9,001 $ere using ci2ilians are human shields.
Eear 'N()* )esolution Indias +tand '+@
"##. We commend !a--laud% +ri ,ankan go2ernment for their
relief-rehab $ork.
!although% focused only on the abuses done by ,001 !and
not by go2ernment%
&idnt mention international inAuiry !>in other $ords8 no
need for international inAuiry%.
India fa2oured8 thinking that ,ankan go2ernment $ill
honestly rehabilitate the 0amils.
F@F?') ??
"#4" We *ensure !condemn% +ri ,ankan go2ernment for their
human rights 2iolations.
+ri ,ankan go2ernment has setu- internal inAuiry to -robe
human rights 2iolation ='0 $ere dissatisfied $ith their
$ork.
We $ant an international inAuiry in this matter
F@F?') Fa2our
"#4G (uman rights 2iolation in +ri ,anka $ere not 9+tate
s-onsored:. !In other $ords8 go2ernment didnt do anything
$rong%
<o2ernment should im-lement the recommendations of the
reconciliation commission.
No need for se-arate in2estigation of human rights abuse
!@tleast for no$%
F@F?') Fa2our
"#4B
+10'P an !inde-endent% international inAuiry for human rights abuse
during ,001-War.
@bstrain Fa2our
This ,-./ resolution wants
1# In*estigation into $ar rimes @ human rights *iolation during "00"20%
period ($hen CTTM26o*ernment $ar $as on peak#)
"# (Ae of the +igh ommissioner of +uman rights ((+B+5) $ill ondut this
in*estigation#
&# Although that <arkari2CC5B (Cessons Cearnt and 5eoniliation
Bommission) in*estigated this period ("00"20%) but still fresh in*estigation
$ill be made#
"hy India a'stained .ro% /oting0
in last t$o resolutions8 India 2oted in fa2our of '+@ backed resolutions against +ri ,anka. ! 9fa2our: > you
are 2oting 9@<@IN+0: +ri ,anka%.
4- same thing can ha--en to us
India opposed to this resolution beause it $ould undermine
so*ereignt! of <ri Canka# (In the long run. some other ountr! ma!
$ant to in*oke similar resolution on India. sa!ing !our arm!
F*iolatingG human rights in J, @ 7MD or B5P0 *iolating human rights
$hile )ghting /aoists. so $e $ant to setup an FInternationalG in=uir!)#
7one of our neighbors ha*e *oted in fa*or of this resolution#
7one of Asian ountries ha*e *oted in fa*or of this resolution#
WM4ept <outh ,oreaX#
>eause e*er!one has similar F'omestiG problems2 no one $ants
FinternationalG in=uir! on human rights#
<o there $as no need for India beome Fhuman rights hampionG b!
*oting in fa*or of this resolution#
>esides. India has ne*er *oted in fa*or suh international2in=uiries# Ee
respet the Fso*ereignt!F of e*er! nation#
M*en. in past $hen $e *oted FagainstG <ri Canka. $e had tried to
persuade ;7+5B to $ater do$n the ritiism@ensures against <ri
Canka#
<o b! abstaining this time. $e ha*ent dramatiall! made ;2turn in
our stand on issue# All $e $ant is <ri Canka to rehabilitate Tamils#
"2 PA,2B+I7A
7either Pakistan 7(5 Bhina *oted in fa*our of this resolution# (Q
the! also dont $ant international in=uir!)#
<o. I0 $e *ote in fa*ourQ unhapp! <ri Canka $ould gro$ loser $ith
Pak and Bhina#
&2 Abstain Q line open both sides
;<A. its allies in Catin Ameria and Afria. *oted in fa*our (of
setting international in=uir! for <ri Canka)#
Yoting in 0a*or Q lines are dra$n. !ou kno$ $ho is the enem!. $ho
is the friend#
>ut Abstained Q spae a*ailable for future manoeu*ring (India an
get lose to <ri Canka or Blose to ;<A2 depending on ho$ Bhinese
$ind blo$s in Arabian sea and $hether <ri Canka danes on their
tunes)#
Q. &iscuss the im-ortance of rail connecti2ity to @runanchal Pradesh and the recent
initiati2es taken therein. !4## $ords%
In reent !ears. Bhina has e4tended its rail$a! net$ork upto Ziga1e2 lose
to <ikkimD no$ planning to e4tend rail links upto <ino2Indian border 8ust
aross Ta$ang Yalle! in $estern Arunahal Pradesh#
Therefore. Indian rail onneti*it! to Arunahal beomes top2strategi
priorit!#
'uring peae times. itd help boosting trade. tourism. onneti*it! and
thus national integration#
'uring $ar. same an be utili1ed for mo*ing troops. food. ratio and
ammunition#
+o$e*er. sine late 80s. Arunahal had barel! 1#":kms rail$a! in Mast
,ameng distrit#
In "013. 7ortheast 0rontier 5ail$a! )nished rail station O7aharlagun.
barel! 10 km a$a! from apital Itanagar# This links Arunahal to Assam and
from there to rest of India#
-# <hort 7ote 2 M4erise ,omodo[
At Indonesia ("8
th
/arh to &
rd
April)
7a*ies of man! ountriesH India. Indonesia. ;<A. Bhina. 5ussia et#
India has sent I7< <ukan!a $ith Bhetak heliopter#
0hy this e1ercise2
1# +umanitarian Assistane#
"# 'isaster 5elief. i*ilian resue
&# (il Ceakage Bontrol
3# <ports and <oial Interation among defense personnel#
12 "rite a 'rie. note on Indias .oreign po$i)y under the !ri%e %inister 3an%ohan
+ingh2 4566 7ords8
'+@
+igned &efence frame$ork !"##5% and Nuclear deal !"##6%
0ried to ha2e bilateral relations on eAual footing8 did not become rubber stam- of
'+ international -olicy. For eHam-le/
&id not fa2our military inter2ention in ,ibya and +yria.
&id not fa2our sanctions against )ussia o2er 'krain-*rimea crisis.
*(IN@
0ried to im-ro2e relation $ith *hina directly and 2ia =)I*+ and =@+I*.
0ried to resol2e border-issue I reduce trade deficit.
=ut $as (eld back by *hau2inistic Media and ?--osition.
P@JI+0@N
No ma7or breakthrough in im-ro2ing bilateral ties.
)estrained any military ste- on the $ake u- Mumbai attack and 2iolation of cease
fire on the border.
demanded -robe in Mumbai attack from Pakistan and MFN status to India
I)@N
Foted against Iran at I@1@ resolutions8 to kee- '+@ in good humour !"##5-#K.%
=ut later8 tried to re2i2e relationshi- through *habahar -ort.
@F<(@NI+0@N
+trategic -artnershi- agreement !#L%
&e2elo-ment of Parliament house8 +alma dam8 &elaram-aran7 (igh$ay ends
near *habhar and ci2il hos-ital in Jandhar.
=uilding infrastructure8 im-ro2ing 1conomic8 security and human-resource ties.
-ledged to assist @fghanistan -ost-N@0? $ithdra$al.
N1P@,
Initially hel-ed in -eace-deal bet$een Ne-ali Maoists and other -arties.
,ater ado-ted the -olicy of non-interference.
=@N<,@&1+(
Made -rogress to resol2e border issues8 $ater sharing and anti-terrorism.
=ut $as held back by domestic -olitics.
ME@NM@)
+igned =IP@/ =ilateral In2estment Promotion @greement =IP@ !"##6%
?-ened border trade at G locations.
?ffered to de2elo- +itt$e -ort as oil-gas transhi-ment terminal.
Jaladan -ro7ect to connecting Mioram to +itt$e -ort to JolkataD(aldia.
Maldi2es
+u--orted Mohd. Nasheed8 the first elected President of Maldi2es.
When he $as remo2ed in "#4"8 India Auickly to recognised ne$ go2ernment
under President Waheed. =ut at the same time8 also ga2e -olitical asylum to
Nasheed.
+ome bitterness8 $hen Waheed cancelled contract of <M) !Indian co.% to
modernie Males air-ort.
India-+hri ,anka-Maldi2es tri--artite agreement on maritime coo-eration in "#4G
+)I ,@NJ@
&id not su--ort either ,ankan @rmy or ,001.
=ut after the end of $ar8 su--orted the rehabilitation of 0amils in North +ri
,anka.
;@P@N
;a-ans assistance in &elhi Metro8 &MI*
*urrency s$a- agreement to counter eHchange rate 2olatility and negati2e effects
of Fed 0a-ering.
1ngaged in "M" dialogue $ith 0okyo.
+outh @sia
+.Jorea/ *1P@ !4#%
@+1@N/ F0@ in trade8 in2estment and ser2icesN )*1P !)egional *om-rehensi2e
1conomic Partnershi-%.
Pro7ects for trans-border connecti2ity $ith Myanmar8 0hailand and =IM+01*
countries.
1Htradition treaty $ith 0hailand8 ?il eH-loration treaty in Fietnam