Sunday, January 15 2006 10:36 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: With unrest prevailing in Balochistan, concerns are growing in India over the proposed 4.16 billion US dollar Iran-India gas pipeline, which has to pass through the region of Pakistan.

India's worries stem from the fact that it would have huge stakes in the nearly 3000 km long pipeline project, about 800 km of which has to pass through Balochistan.

"We are concerned about the future of the pipeline in view of the growing instability in Balochistan", official sources said here.

"India will have immense strategic stakes in the pipeline once completed. Naturally, instability in the region (Balochistan) will not be in the interest of the project," the sources said.

New Delhi apprehends that the pipeline could be caught in the cross-fire if violence continues to increase in Balochistan, they said, citing the past incidents when pipelines of water and gas have been targeted in the region.

These concerns are believed to have been one of the provocations for External Affairs Ministry to issue a statement recently on situation in Balochistan.

The pipeline project is of considerable significance to energy-hungry India as supply of gas from Iran by it will help it meet its growing energy requirements, the sources said.

Earlier, while considering the proposal, three options were before India. One was to ship the gas from Iran in the form of liquefied natural gas, another was to carry it through deep-sea pipeline and the third by over ground pipeline.

The third option was considered since it was the least expensive of the three.

Negotiations are currently in advance stage with regard to the pipeline with all three countries keen to see that the project is launched at the earliest.

But since December 18, intense fighting is on in Balochistan, triggered by army crackdown to curb growing disenchantment among the locals with regard to Pakistan.

Military operations are in progress in Dera Bugti, Kohlu and Kalat.

Baloch National Movement (BNM) activists on Tuesday held a protest demonstration against the military operations and said the UN and Human Rights Commission should take notice of the continuing 'oppression' by Pakistani army.

The protestors demanded that representatives of these organisations should visit the region for first hand assessment of the situation there, Pakistani media reports said.

Addressing the protesters, Jamhoori Watan Party leader Qadir Qalandrani said the Balochis will continue their 'struggle' against Islamabad.