Indian president hopes for successful realization of TAPI project

Indian President Pratibha Patil has sent a letter to his Turkmen counterpart Guarbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressing hope for realization of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, Trend reports.

The letter was sent to mark the 20th anniversary of Turkmen independence.

One of the key issues is preparation of a contract on purchase and sales of Turkmen gas. The project is being actively promoted by the Asian Development Bank, which finances its feasibility studies.

A deal on TAPI was signed in Ashkhabad in December 2010. The sides are negotiating transit and financing.

Experts say that realization of TAPI would escalate tensions in Afghanistan. Officials in Ashkhabad offered peace talks in Afghanistan under the auspices of the UN.

Berdimuhamedov recently said in Ashkhabad that TAPI construction would boost the economy of Afghanistan and help cope with its social problems by opening new workplaces and attracting investment. The Turkmen president underlined the fast-paced progress on the project.