The Cabinet on Wednesday asked the petroleum ministry to hold talks with Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan to secure gas supplies for India through pipelines.
"It will significantly enhance oil security of the country," Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said after the Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The pipelines will be from Iran to India through Pakistan, from Turkmenistan to India through Afghanistan and Pakistan, and from Myanmar to India through Bangladesh, he said.
The Cabinet also approved the appointment of Indian Foreign Service officer Talmiz Ahmed as additional secretary (overseas operation) in the petroleum ministry.
Ahmed was additional secretary (administration) in the Ministry of External Affairs.