Kabul, Ashgabat talk acceleration of TAPI project

KABUL (Pajhwok): Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi and his Turkmen counterpart Rashid Meredov have discussed various issues, including the acceleration of work on the TAPI gas pipeline project in Afghanistan, and provision of transit and visa facilities.

Muttaqi, Meredov and the delegation accompanying him assessed progress on the TAPI project near the Afghan-Turkmen border, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

A statement from the ministry said the two sides agreed on continuing meetings between technical teams in Kabul and Ashgabat to accelerate work on the gas pipeline, expand the railroad, enhance energy cooperation and provision of transport and visa facilities.

Meredov briefed his Afghan counterpart on progress on TAPI gas pipeline project in Afghanistan territory.

The project, which traverses 1,800 kilometres, including 816 kilometres in Afghanistan, was previously launched in the country in 2016, but practical work is yet to start.

A 214-kilometre section in Turkmenistan is complete and the pipeline’s extension through Afghanistan was initiated on September 11.

kk/mud