Seher Abbas
Seher Abbas is Research Analyst, at the Institute of Regional Studies. Her interests include international politics and energy security in the region.
DOI: http://DOI Number
Keywords: OPEC, monopolistic system, CARs, untapped reserves, Oil, Natural Gas, The New Great Game, China, Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, TAPI, international political scenario, regional politics
Abstract
Central Asia, including the countries of Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan, is at the centre of what has been dubbed “The New Great Game” by Pakistani journalist Ahmed Rashid in the 1990s, and is characterised by the region’s volatile energy politics. China, India, Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan are just some of the new regional players that have emerged alongside the United States and Russia as major global powers. Profits from oil and gas pipelines, tanker routes, petroleum consortiums, and contracts are all part of the game’s pot of gold. As a partner in the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline and the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline, Pakistan has a stake in the New Great Game. The first section of the article provides an overview of the New Great Game, including its significance in illuminating the current international political environment in the region, the roles being performed by the important players, and the massive projects being started or finished. Next, we’ll take a look at Pakistan’s energy requirements and the present gas shortages that are impacting the country.
First Published
March 25, 2012
How to Cite
Seher Abbas, “IP and TAPI in the ‘New Great Game’: Can Pakistan Keep its Hopes High?,” Regional Studies 30, no.2 (Spring 2012): 91-116, https://regionalstudies.com.pk/wp/article/ip-and-tapi-in-the-new-great-game-can-pakistan-keep-its-hopes-high/
Issue
Volume 30, Issue 2