TAPI gas pipeline can improve relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan
TAPI gas pipeline project can help regional countries not only to solve energy crisis but also to improve their bilateral relations, believes analysts. How the TAPI can change the future of Pakistani-Afghan relationship - researcher of Strategic Vision Institute, Islamabad, Hareem Aqdas shared her point of view in the article “TAPI pipeline project: a way forward”, recently published in Pakistani mass media.
Despite of similarities, shared by Pakistan and Afghanistan in history, religion, civilization and culture, the two countries have never been successful in establishing tension free relations. Since the creation of Pakistan for more than half a century a large part of their relations consisted of passive antagonism, mistrust and a blame game.
Instability in Afghanistan affects in greater extent Pakistan. This situation necessitates for
Pakistan to try and maintain cordial relations with its neighbor, for strategic benefits and to initiate a peace process with Afghanistan.
“In the current scenario, the most reliable possibility of a cordial relation with Afghanistan is the TAPI gas pipeline”, writes analyst.
The interdependency, that would be created by the regional energy infrastructure project, will help in eradicating tensions between neighboring countries, as well as strengthen Pak-Afghanistan ties.
The reliability of the project is dependant on the fact that it involves the consent of major warring groups - official government and Taliban. “It is a rare occurrence to see these groups agreeing to the same thing. The Afghan government, realizing the project’s potential to better the economy of Afghanistan, has agreed to it. The Taliban have also consented to not interfere in the matter”, underscored the author.
1814-km TAPI gas pipeline claims to become one of the biggest energy projects to be undertaken in the Asian region. The official and expert circles believe, the revenues generated from the transit of Turkmen gas could be a startup towards the economic development of Afghanistan. Moreover, Turkmenistan will obtain additional gas sales market in South Asia.
