PAKISTAN AND TURKMENISTAN PUSHES WITH GAS PIPELINE
ISLAMABAD 16TH May. (IPS) The two billion-dollar Trans-Afghanistan gas pipeline project dominated two days of discussions between Pakistan's Chief Executive General Parviz Mosharraf and the Turkemen President Saparmurat Niyazov, Pakistani diplomats said.
General Mosharraf's visit to Turkmenistan was the first to a Central Asian nation since he took over in a military coup in 1998 and points to Islam-Abad's efforts to play a more active role in the region, in competition with neighbouring Iran and India, analysts says.
The proposed 1.464 kilometres, 48-inches diameter natural gas pipeline that would carry up to two billion cubic feet per day (20 billion cubic meters per years) stretches from the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan border in south-eastern Turkmenistan to Multan, Pakistan, with a 640 kilometres extension to India under consideration. Estimated cost of the project is US$1.9 billion for the segment to Pakistan and an additional US$600 million for the extension to India Approximately 750 kilometres of the pipeline will cross Afghanistan.
Both countries attach great importance to early completion of this project, which has been delayed since 11998 by unrest in Afghanistan.
If approved, the project that has the backing of Washington would constitute another big disappointment for the Islamic Republic of Iran that considers itself -- and rightly though -- as the "natural" transit route for the transit of Turkmenistan and other Central Asian energy reach nations to world outlets.
Turkmenistan had signed the deal with a consortium, which will comprise American UNOCAL, Turkmenistan government, Delta of Saudi Arabia, Itochu of Japan, Gazprom of Russia, INPEX of Japan, Hyundai of South Korea and Crescent of Pakistan.
During their meetings, the Pakistani strongman hold and President Saparmurat Niyazov exchanged views on important bilateral, regional and international issues with special emphasis on Afghanistan and Kashmir, sources said.
Meeting with newsmen after his first round of talks with Turkmen President, General Mosharraf declared we believe in peace and would like to have peace in the region. "We want peace between Pakistan and India and peace in Afghanistan and we believe in peace with honour and dignity", he added.
He said Pakistan was looking to promote relations with Turkmenistan in diplomatic, economic cultural relationship and in all the fields including the defence field. "We have geo-economic and geo-strategic linkages with Turkmenistan".
General Mosharraf's visit is closely watched by Iran, as the country that has close economic and political ties with Turkmenistan after Russia.
Analysts said Niyazov wants to balance the different powers in the region. "He wants to remind Putin that he is independent politically", said Moscow-based analyst Andrei Piontkovsky, pointing out to the Russian new President's forthcoming visit to Eshghabad. ENDS PAKISTAN TURKMENISTAN 16500