Kabul—Afghan and Turkmen officials initiated the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline and other development projects on Wednesday, aimed at bolstering economic ties and regional connectivity.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Acting Afghan Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund highlighted the projects’ potential to enhance bilateral relations during an inauguration ceremony at the Turkmen border. The TAPI pipeline, extending 1,814 kilometers with 816 kilometers across Afghan territory, is designed to transport 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India.
The initiative is projected to generate significant economic benefits for Afghanistan, yielding 450 million U.S. dollars in transit fees. Additionally, Afghanistan will receive escalating amounts of natural gas over three decades, starting with 500 million cubic meters in the first ten years, increasing to 1 billion in the second, and reaching 1.5 billion cubic meters in the third.
The deputy prime minister’s office for economic affairs also noted that the TAPI project would create thousands of jobs, both directly and indirectly, significantly impacting local employment.
The TAPI pipeline project, which began in 2018 but was later suspended for unspecified reasons, represents a major step forward in regional infrastructure development and economic integration.