Turkmenistan, Afghanistan ink pipeline framework deal

The countries agreed in 2002 to build a 1,700 km pipeline to deliver Turkmen gas to Pakistan and India via Afghanistan

ASHGABAT: Turkmenistan and Afghanistan have signed a framework agreement on moving forward a stalled project to build a gas pipeline from the energy-rich ex-Soviet state to the east, official media said on Tuesday.

The countries agreed in 2002 to build a 1,700 kilometre (1,060 mile) pipeline to deliver Turkmen gas to Pakistan and India via Afghanistan but progress on the project has lagged because of the conflict with the Taliban.

But the project has gained momentum following a series of recent high-level talks between regional leaders. The framework deal between the neighbouring countries was signed on Monday during a bi-lateral meeting in Kabul.

"The implementation of this ambitious project initiated by Turkmenistan will become a powerful impetus to strengthen stability and peace in the region," the Neutral Turkmenistan official newspaper said.

"(It) will provide ample opportunities to create thousands of new jobs and the conditions for the further development of industrial capacity in the countries participating in the construction of this grand energy bridge."

The pipeline aims to transport over 30 billion cubic metres of gas annually from the Dauletabad gas fields in southeast Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and possibly India.

Despite receiving financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) the project, whose route would take it through conflict torn-Helmand and Kandahar in Afghanistan and Quetta in Pakistan, has been held up by security problems.

Turkmenistan sits atop the world's fourth-biggest natural gas reserves and Russia, China and the West are vying to expand their presence there as the country cautiously relaxes the isolation imposed by Berdymukhamedov's late predecessor Saparmurat Niyazov.