Pakistan Will Work on Ensuring Safety of TAPI Gas Pipeline

Pakistan is likely to use its influence on Taliban for the security of the much delayed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline.

Country’s defense minister Khwaja Mohammad Asif told BBC Urdu the project is very important for Pakistan and Islamabad will do everything possible to have this project completed on time, Afghanistan’s Khaama Press news agency reported Friday.

While responding the question if Pakistan would use its influence on Afghan militant groups, especially the Taliban, for the security of TAPI pipeline project, he said: “Of course, we would use it. For our interests, we would take any positive step.”

Inauguration of the TAPI gas pipeline is scheduled to take place on December 13.

The inauguration ceremony of the project would be attended by Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov, his Afghan counterpart Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari and Pakistani PM Mohammad Nawaz Sharif.