Kabul, Ashgabat agree to accelerate TAPI, TAP projects — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghanistan and Turkmenistan have agreed to establish a technical committee led by senior officials to follow up on and accelerate the implementation of the TAPI gas pipeline, TAP, fibre-optic and railway projects. Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar met Turkmenistan’s National Leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at Torghundi port in western Herat province on Monday, his office said in a statement. The two sides discussed recent progress on the TAPI project and future joint economic activities between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, according to the statement. Baradar welcomed Berdimuhamedov and expressed satisfaction with the progress of the TAPI project in Herat. He said work on the project was progressing well in the province and expressed hope that the remaining activities would be completed within the scheduled timeframe. Baradar called on the Turkmen side to reach an agreement on gas prices and adjust the pricing formula to protect prices from sharp fluctuations in European markets. He also proposed that the gas contract should be long-term, offer favourable terms and include a flexible mechanism for reviewing the agreement. He called for Turkmenistan’s cooperation in establishing a gas distribution and consumption network in Herat, forming a joint technical and legal commission to resolve outstanding issues related to the TAPI project, and making joint efforts to create more job opportunities for Afghans…