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> to the planned construction of an ultra-deepwater natural-gas pipeline across the Arabian Sea, from Iran to India’s west coast. Pakistan's exclusive economic

> to the planned construction of an ultra-deepwater natural-gas pipeline across the Arabian Sea, from Iran to India’s west coast. Pakistan's exclusive economic zone extends 370km (200 nautical miles) from its coastline except where it runs into another nation's EEZ. Given that the distance from the easternmost coastline of Iran to Oman is 340km, this pipeline is going to have to run through Pakistan's exclusive economic zone unless they take great pains to stay within Oman's and then run out past the continental shelf. Even then, I would be shocked if Pakistan's navy lacked the ability to cut a pipeline that was only 400km off its shores. That doesn't seem like a prospect that would make any of the three countries happy.

pm90 11y ago
The threat is probably not so much as the Pakistani navy cutting the pipeline as much as insurgents/terrorists. Its much harder to damage a pipeline deep underwater (I would assume) than one in plain sight. Especially since the westernmost areas of Pakistan (bordering Iran) are semi-independent and governed by tribals.
g8oz 11y ago
For decades there have been continued, sporadic albeit unsuccessful attempts to get a land based pipeline for Iranian gas built supplying both Pakistan and India. The idea of India paying transit fees to Pakistan for the gas is well established. The hold up is in other aspects of the effort. Furthermore according to Wikipedia: "As there are concerns over the pipeline being attacked by Baluchi insurgents, an alternative offshore route from Iran to the maritime boundary between India and Pakistan off Kutch was proposed. According to this proposal, from there one branch was to run to Pakistan while other branch to run to Kutch". So Pakistan is already part of these discussions around a underwater pipeline. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Pakistan_gas_pipeline https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Pakistan_gas_pipeline

pm90 11y ago

The threat is probably not so much as the Pakistani navy cutting the pipeline as much as insurgents/terrorists. Its much harder to damage a pipeline deep underwater (I would assume) than one in plain sight. Especially since the westernmost areas of Pakistan (bordering Iran) are semi-independent and governed by tribals.

g8oz 11y ago

For decades there have been continued, sporadic albeit unsuccessful attempts to get a land based pipeline for Iranian gas built supplying both Pakistan and India. The idea of India paying transit fees to Pakistan for the gas is well established. The hold up is in other aspects of the effort. Furthermore according to Wikipedia: "As there are concerns over the pipeline being attacked by Baluchi insurgents, an alternative offshore route from Iran to the maritime boundary between India and Pakistan off Kutch was proposed. According to this proposal, from there one branch was to run to Pakistan while other branch to run to Kutch". So Pakistan is already part of these discussions around a underwater pipeline. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Pakistan_gas_pipeline https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Pakistan_gas_pipeline