After Turkmenistan, Modi leaves for Kyrgyzstan

The two sides inked seven agreements, including for cooperation in fertilisers and in defence.

The four countries planning the gas pipeline will in September pick a company to lead construction, paving the way to the start of work on the project, the Turkmen president said. “However, its commissioning faces multiple challenges which are unlikely to be addressed quickly and will make it a long gestation project”, it added.

Terming TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) project as a big initiative in relationship between the 2 nations, Modi stated he conveyed to Berdymukhammedov that a number of choices together with the likelihood of land-sea route by means of Iran for the pipeline ought to be explored.

Transit fee payable to each nation from where the pipeline passes and funding tie-ups for the project could hinder the prospects given the geo-political risks and the lack of off-take agreements.

The joint statement said the TAPI project “forms a key pillar of economic engagement between the two countries” and its implementation will have “a transformational impact on trade between the two countries”. Underlining the need for greater cooperation in the energy sector, Modi welcomed the decision by ONGC Videsh Limited to open an office in Ashgabat.

“Following delegation level talks, India and Turkmenistan signed 7 agreements for enhancing coopn in a no of sectors”, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted. Kazakhstan has also joined the bloc. I have also proposed that Turkmenistan becomes a member of the worldwide North South Transport Corridor.

The 1,735km pipeline, with a proposed annual capacity of 33 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas, will run more than 700 km across Afghanistan on its way to Pakistan and India, raising questions about the stability of shipments via the chronically unstable country. The Prime Minister successfully completed his Turkmenistan tour and said that it has been memorable.

During their comprehensive talks, both leaders resolved to step up efforts against cross-border threats of terrorism, organized crime and illegal drug-trafficking as they their reaffirmed their commitment for a stable Afghanistan.

Meeting Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov for talks in Ashgabat, the Indian premier backed an ambitious project to build a pipeline from Turkmenistan to deliver its vast energy resources to India.