Afghan President Ghani Discusses TAPI Project With Tribal Leaders

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Sunday talked about the importance of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) to a gathering of tribal elders, reported TOLOnews.

While addressing the gathering Ghani said, “The country supports regional and international projects so as to ensure positive change. More positive changes will arrive in the months ahead."

The much delayed TAPI gas pipeline project was formally inaugurated last Sunday, December 13, 2015. The ground breaking ceremony, which was held in Mary in the southeastern part of Turkmenistan, was attended by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani along with Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Indian Vice President Muhammad Hamid Ansari.

He said that besides TAPI being of enormous economic importance, the project is also a step forward to change Afghanistan into an economic hub in the region, TOLOnews reported.

Experts believe that for the project to be successful, security of the pipeline would be very important, especially in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Islamabad has already indicated that it is willing to talk to Taliban about the project. 

Nearly 200 kilometers of the pipeline will pass through the territory of Turkmenistan, 735 kilometers through Afghanistan, 800 kilometers through Pakistan and will reach Fazilka in India. The pipeline will export up to 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India over 30 years.