14-03-2023
Bureau Report
KABUL/ NEW DELHI/ ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MoMP) said that the Islamic Emirate (Taliban Government) is fully prepared to launch the practical work on the Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India (TAPI) pipeline project.
A spokesman for the MOMP, Homayoun Afghan, called said existing challenges in the TAPI member countries were the main obstacles for the implementation of this project.
He said that legal and technical obstacles ahead of the implementation of the project have been removed.
“The relevant countries, for example Turkmenistan, Pakistan and India, they might have technical and legal problems so this project has been delayed. We have completed all of the issues,” he said.
“The relevant countries and the World Bank should focus on this project from the financial side, so that all of us reach the regional goals,” said Abdul Latif Nazari, deputy of Ministry of Economy.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said that there have been several meetings with the countries involved in the TAPI pipeline projects.
The economists said that the TAPI pipeline project is important for the economic enhancement of the country.
“Until the political engagement between India and Pakistan remains unsolved, the TAPI project will not move forward. This is why Pakistan is trying to implement TAP (Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan) project instead of TAPI,” said Sayed Masoud, an economist.
“The implementation of this project in Afghanistan will strengthen Afghanistan’s position from the geopolitical side and from the economic side, it meets the needs of power and gas for Afghanistan,” said Darya Khan Baheer, an economist.
Earlier, Russian TV Channel 24 reported that Moscow is also willing to engage in the TAPI pipeline project.
The TAPI project is designed to pass through Afghanistan and Pakistan before reaching India from Turkmenistan. Afghanistan will make more than $400 million a year from the implementation of the project.