The Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) Pipeline

Context: The ongoing West Asia crisis has disrupted energy supplies, exposing India’s heavy dependence on imported gas.

• This has revived discussion on past pipeline projects like the Iran–Pakistan–India (IPI) and Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI)

About The Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) Pipeline:

What it is?

• A proposed 2,775 km natural gas pipeline designed to transport gas from Iran’s South Pars field to Pakistan and India. Often referred to as the Peace Pipeline, this project was intended to link the energy-rich Persian Gulf with the energy-starved South Asian economies.

Established In: Conceptually originated in the 1990s; gained significant diplomatic momentum between 2004 and 2005.

Aim: To provide a cost-effective, land-based alternative to expensive Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) imports for India and Pakistan’s industrial and power sectors.

Key Features:

• Capacity: Designed to supply 60 mmscmd (million standard cubic meters per day) each to India and Pakistan.
• Economic Impact: Offered lower transit costs compared to maritime shipments.
• Strategic Leverage: Aimed to foster regional cooperation and peace through economic interdependence.

Current Status: Dormant/Recast. India effectively exited negotiations in 2007 due to U.S. sanctions (CAATSA pressure), pricing disagreements, and security fears regarding the pipeline passing through Balochistan.

About The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Pipeline:

What it is?

• An 1,814 km trans-regional pipeline project supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to bring gas from Central Asia to South Asia. Following the stalling of IPI, India shifted its focus to this Central Asian alternative, which enjoyed broader international and institutional backing.

Established In: India officially signed the intergovernmental agreement in 2010, though the idea dates back to the mid-90s.

Aim: To diversify India’s energy basket away from West Asian volatility by tapping into the world’s second-largest gas field.

Key Features:

• Source: Originates from the Galkynysh gas field in Turkmenistan.
• Capacity: Projected to transport 33 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas annually.
• Diplomatic Support: Unlike IPI, TAPI was promoted by the U.S. as part of the New Silk Road strategy to stabilize Afghanistan’s economy through transit fees.

Current Status: Partially Active/Stalled.

• While the Turkmen-Afghan section was inaugurated in October 2025 (linking Serhetabat to Herat), the extension to Pakistan and India remains stalled.