The long-delayed Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, a landmark regional initiative, was resumed on September 11, 2024, with an inauguration ceremony held at the Turkmen-Afghan border in Salim Cheshma, Turkmenistan. This significant step marks the commencement of the Afghan segment of the 1,800-kilometer pipeline, which aims to transport up to 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from Turkmenistan’s Galkynysh gas field through Afghanistan to energy-deficient Pakistan and India.
In attendance were key leaders, including the Taliban’s acting Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund, Turkmenistan’s upper chamber chairman and former President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov. President Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan addressed the ceremony via video link, emphasizing the project’s importance for regional economic development, stating, “This project will benefit not only the economies of the participating countries but also the entire region.”
The TAPI project, first conceived in the 1990s, aims to diversify energy supply routes and foster regional cooperation by linking Central and South Asia. Construction on the Turkmen section began in 2015, while the Afghan segment was initially slated for 2018. However, security concerns in Afghanistan, coupled with regional instability, delayed its progress. The project’s restart under Taliban governance signals a shift in Afghanistan’s economic priorities, with the regime promoting the initiative as a source of revenue and job creation, estimating around 12,000 new jobs for Afghans.
The Afghan government declared a public holiday in Herat to mark the project’s resumption, showcasing promotional posters across the province. The pipeline will traverse key Afghan regions, including Herat and Kandahar, before entering Pakistan’s Balochistan and eventually reaching India’s Fazilka region in Punjab. Afghanistan expects to earn approximately $500 million annually in transit fees.
While the TAPI project presents a promising opportunity for economic growth, challenges remain, which include ongoing international sanctions on Afghanistan, concerns over Taliban governance, and enduring tensions between Pakistan and India. Despite these obstacles, the TAPI project holds the potential to enhance regional cooperation and significantly contribute to the economies of all participating countries.
