Turkmenistan and Afghanistan resume work on TAPI Gas Pipeline project

Turkmenistan and Afghanistan resumed work on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project on Wednesday. The project, which has faced many delays, is a significant multibillion-dollar venture aimed at transporting natural gas across four countries.

The inauguration ceremony took place in Salim Cheshma, Turkmenistan. Key attendees included Taliban’s acting Prime Minister, Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund, Turkmenistan’s upper chamber chairman, former President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov.

In addition to TAPI, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan also launched several other projects in the oil, gas, energy, and transport sectors, highlighting a broader cooperative effort between the two nations.

The TAPI project, signed in 2010, encountered several hurdles, including technical and financial issues, as well as disputes between Pakistan and India. Work was stalled but resumed in 2015 with a revised deadline of 2017.

Despite further delays, including the impact of the Taliban’s conflict with the US-backed Afghanistan regime and the political upheaval in Afghanistan, efforts to move forward with the TAPI pipeline have persisted.

In a November 2022 meeting in Kabul, Afghan Foreign Minister Maulvi Amir Khan Muttaqi and Pakistan’s then-State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar agreed to resume the project.

The $7 billion TAPI pipeline aims to transport natural gas from Turkmenistan’s Gylkynish and adjacent gas fields to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, promising to enhance regional energy security and economic cooperation.

The resumption of the TAPI pipeline project represents a crucial step towards regional energy integration and economic development. As Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India work together to advance this significant infrastructure, the project’s successful implementation could bolster energy security and foster closer economic ties among the participating nations.

Ongoing cooperation and commitment from all stakeholders will be essential to overcoming the historically hindered progress challenges. The renewed focus on the TAPI pipeline underscores a shared vision for regional stability and growth, with potential long-term benefits for all involved countries.

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