The debate on the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline has generated more heat than light. There has been a wide chasm between rhetoric and reality, with little informed public debate. It is indisputable that the booming but energy-starved Indian economy needs to tap every possible source of power that is economically viable, with its security and continuity suitably guaranteed.

The long-forgotten Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline projects are back in active consideration.

The much-talked about Indo-Iran JL gas pipeline project has been on the backburner for sometime now. However, there are alternative projects that are being explored, one such being the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (tapi) pipeline.

Gas pipeline from Iran is a high-stakes game by Bhagyashree Pande The scramble for oil resources poses a unique challenge to Indian oil diplomacy. It requires us to explore new engagements or alternatively imbue traditional political relationships with a new, hydrocarbon-related value, according to Talmiz Ahmed, the present Ambassador to Abu Dhabi, who has worked as an Additional Secretary in the Petroleum Ministry.

With India having spurned U.S. advice on dealing with Iran, the one-day visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to New Delhi on April 29 will have energy as the focus. The pending $22 billion LNG deal, the $7.4 billion Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline and exploration and production joint ventures in Iran will top the high-level talks between the two countries. Mr. Ahmadinejad's visit comes at a significant time when India is working aggressively in the world theatre to acquire oil and gas assets in an attempt to meet its growing demand for energy.

But don't support military options against Tehran Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad comes visiting New Delhi on Tuesday. Since the last visit by an Iranian president in 2003, the suspected efforts to acquire nuclear weapon by Tehran has become a bone of contention between the two countries. Iran formally denies that it has any ambition to become a nuclear weapons power. At the same time it asserts its right under Article IV of the Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) to develop uranium enrichment technology for peaceful purposes.

Iran has invited Indian companies like RITES, IRCON and CONCOR to bid for developing a 600-km long railway link between Chabahar and Fahraj. The link, when completed, will provide India a multi-modal transport corridor with Russia via Iran, bypassing Pakistan, under UNESCAP's ambitious Trans Asian Railway (TAR) project.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will stop in New Delhi next week on a brief "working visit" to be topped by talks on two multi-billion dollar energy deals, an official said Monday. Ahmadinejad will arrive here on April 29 after a two-day state visit to India's southern neighbour Sri Lanka, and leave later that day, the foreign ministry official said. During his stay, Ahmadinejad's first to India, he will meet his Indian counterpart Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the official said.

Striking an optimistic note, India on Saturday hoped civilian nuclear cooperation with the United States and other countries would become possible soon. This comes at a time when the Left is waving the red flag on the Indo-US nuclear deal.