HERAT: Afghanistan and Turkmenistan officially resumed work on the stalled Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project on Wednesday, with senior officials from the Taliban and Turkmenistan in attendance.
The TAPI project, a major economic initiative for Afghanistan and the region, has already seen 214 kilometers of the pipeline completed on Turkmenistan’s soil. The pipeline is expected to annually transport 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.
According to Ministry of Mines and Petroleum spokesperson Homayoon Afghan, all preparations for the TAPI project have been finalized. The project is anticipated to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs once work begins.
“It is expected that work on the TAPI project will officially begin tomorrow, Wednesday, with a ceremony in Afghanistan. This project will offer thousands of Afghans employment opportunities and provide the country with access to affordable and sustainable energy,” Homayoon Afghan told TOLONews.
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During the opening ceremony in Herat, Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund emphasized that the commencement of the TAPI project would strengthen relations between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. He praised Turkmenistan’s leadership, stating, “This reflects the good intentions and wise policies of Turkmenistan’s national leader, its President, and other officials who maintain strong neighborly ties, particularly with Afghanistan.”
Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, speaking virtually, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to strengthening relations with Afghanistan, stating, “The good relations between Turkmenistan and Afghanistan continue. The TAPI project, along with other initiatives, will benefit not only Afghanistan but also the broader region. Turkmenistan is working to enhance its ties with Afghanistan.”
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, the national leader of Turkmenistan, also highlighted the project’s symbolic importance, saying, “The TAPI project represents true brotherhood with Afghanistan and marks a new chapter in Turkmenistan’s foreign policy. Our historical ties with Afghanistan, rooted in brotherly intentions, are now visible to the world. These projects are also vital for regional security and will help connect Central Asia with South Asia.”
Notably, Turkmenistan is one of the few countries that has kept its embassy open in Afghanistan and has accepted the Islamic Emirate’s ambassador in Ashgabat.