Eurasianet: Turkmenistan strengthens cooperation with the Taliban on the construction of the TAPI gas pipeline

During his visit to Afghanistan, the PresidentTurkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdymuchammedow, praised the improved relation with the Taliban government in Kabul and expressed appreciation for the United States for supporting regional trade. In the Herat Berdymuchammedow, he stressed that the TAPI gas pipeline project, which connects Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, is crucial for the economical improvement of the region and for strengthening the links between Central Asian countries.

While in Afghanistan to monitor the gas pipeline project, Turkmenistan's highest leader, Gurbanguly Berdymuchamedow, praised the improvement of bilateral relations with the Taliban government in Kabul, while expressing appreciation for the United States for supporting regional trade.

"The relations between the Turkmens and the Afghans, dating back to ancient times, have been greatly strengthened" said Berdymuuchamedow in a speech given on 20 October in the West African city of Herat. He stressed that the gas pipeline project, called TAPI, which enables the supply of energy from Turkmenistan to Pakistan and India through Afghanistan, would have a affirmative impact on the social and economical improvement not only of the participating countries, but besides of all the countries of the region.

The imagination of the TAPI gas pipeline dates back to the mid-1990s – a period of comparative calm in the last half century of conflict and instability in Afghanistan. It is understandable that the TAPI task remained in the conceptual phase for decades of turmoil that shook the country after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Last September, representatives of the Turkmen and Taliban authorities officially resumed the project. The first phase of TAPI includes the laying of pipes between Serhetabat in confederate Turkmenistan and the Afghan centre of Herat.

A message issued by the Taliban government on 20 October stated that 14 kilometres of gas pipeline in Afghanistan had been completed so far. In total, the TAPI way is expected to cross over 1,800 kilometres of Afghan territory. After completion, the gas pipeline will have an expected capacity of 33 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year, possibly bringing over a billion dollars in transit gross to the Taliban government.

After finishing his speech at the Herat, Berdymuchamedow praised the United States for supporting the TAPI project, adding, that "currently bilateral cooperation covers many areas, in peculiar trade, investment and contacts between business environments".

Source: Eurasianet

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