KABUL: The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has said that practical work on the implementation of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) natural gas pipeline project will start very soon. The TAPI project, aimed at exporting up to 33 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas annually through a proposed approximately 1,800 kilometers pipeline from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan, Pakistan, and into India.
In a meeting with Khawaja Awadov, the ambassador of Turkmenistan to Kabul, Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, affirmed that the practical implementation of the TAPI project is imminent.
Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal, the deputy spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also confirmed on social media that the discussions focused on the TAPI project’s progress and the expansion of diplomatic ties between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan.
Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Acting Minister of Interior, echoed these sentiments in a joint security meeting, highlighting that preparations for the TAPI pipeline’s construction phase within Afghanistan are about to begin. The TAPI project is regarded as a significant undertaking not only for Afghanistan but for the entire region.
The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has emphasized that the TAPI project has been elevated to a top priority following the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate. The ministry has resolved various issues that previously impeded progress. The initial phase of the TAPI project, which began in 2017, included security arrangements, planning, design, demining, and land acquisition. This phase has been successfully completed, but the second, more complex phase had faced delays.
Recent agreements between Turkmenistan and Pakistan reaffirmed the commitment to advancing the TAPI project with Afghanistan’s participation. The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has also announced that legal hurdles have been addressed.
The TAPI pipeline will significantly bolster Afghanistan’s role as a strategic energy corridor and facilitate stronger integration between Central Asia and South Asia.
