KABUL: In a surprise announcement, Afghan Talibans on Tuesday said they want to protect key infrastructure projects in the war-torn nation including the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project.
The group offered to protest the USD 10 billion project in a statement sent to the Afghan interior ministry here on Tuesday.
“The Islamic Emirate not only backs all national projects which are in the interest of the people and result in the development and prosperity of the nation but are also committed to safeguarding them,” the statement read.
“The Islamic Emirate directs all its mujahideens to help in the security of all national projects that are in the higher interest of Islam and the country,” the statement said, referring to the group’s fighters.”
The group promised in the statement that it will also protect a multi-billion dollar copper mine known as Mes Aynak, south of Kabul, being developed by China.
The ambitious TAPI pipeline project, launched last December, will have a capacity to carry 90 million standard cubic metres a day (mmscmd) gas for a 30-year period. India and Pakistan would get 38 mmscmd each, while the remaining 14 mmscmd will be supplied to Afghanistan.
From the field, the pipeline will run to Herat and Kandahar province in Afghanistan, before entering Pakistan.
