Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Afghanistan

Turkmenistan Still Interested In Trans-Afghan Pipeline

President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov (file photo) (AFP)

July 5, 2007 -- Turkmenistan says it is still interested in a $2 billion project to build a gas pipeline across Afghanistan to Pakistan and India.

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July 05, 2007

President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov made the comment to his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzai, who started a two-day visit to Turkmenistan today.

Berdymukhammedov also said his country will be ready to ship 30 billion cubic meters of gas annually through the pipeline. Karzai said all countries along the pipeline's route would stand to gain.

A spokesman in Kabul said earlier in the day that Afghanistan is hoping the project will create 12,000 jobs for Afghans and eventually bring in $300 million in annual transit tariffs.

(compiled from agency reports)

FURTHER READING
Afghanistan Joins SAARC By joining the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in April, Kabul tightened ties with India and Pakistan. more	Putin's Trump Card A major "energy summit" of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan in May strengthened Russia's hand in Central Asia. more

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