Kabul fully backs TAPI pipeline: Ashgabat

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): The political change in Afghanistan will not affect the execution of a multibillion gas project, hopes Tajikistan.

A delegation from Tajikistan, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Vepa Hajiyev, held talks with Pakistani officials on the project in Islamabad on Monday.

Hajiyev said Afghanistan’s new rulers were fully supportive of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline.

Speaking at a meeting with Pakistani officials, led by Federal Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar, he claimed the Taliban also stoutly supported the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) power transmission line.

Various aspects of the flagship gas and power projects were discussed at the meeting. The pipeline aims to carry natural gas from Gylkynish and adjacent gas fields in Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

In mid-January, a Taliban team visited Ashgabat for talks on TAPI, TAP transmission line and trade with Turkmen officials.

In November last, Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov had visited Kabul for negotiations on the mega gas pipeline scheme.

Minister Azhar renewed Pakistan’s commitment to the project and underlined the need for fast-tracking it — a view shared by Turkmenistan.

The minister said Pakistan, given its growing energy needs, was massively interested in the early completion of the project.

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