TAPI Pipeline Faces Uncertain Future Amid Mixed Commitments

• •TAPI pipeline construction nears Herat, Afghanistan, with commissioning expected by end of 2026.
• •Pakistan's commitment to TAPI is uncertain due to India's declining interest in the project.
• •Turkmenistan has invested $600 million in the Herat section, but further development relies on external financial support.

The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project has reached the outskirts of Herat, Afghanistan, with hopes for commissioning by the end of 2026. However, reports indicate that Pakistan may reconsider its involvement due to India's waning interest in the project. Pakistan's Ambassador to Turkmenistan emphasized the need for commercial sustainability and financial viability to advance TAPI. The project, originally proposed in the 1990s, has faced numerous delays and geopolitical challenges. Turkmenistan has invested $600 million in the pipeline section to Herat, but further progress depends on securing partnerships and financial backing, potentially from China or Russia. The energy crisis stemming from the Iran war has renewed interest in TAPI, particularly from Pakistan, which now sees it as crucial for regional energy security. Without India's participation, the project's economic viability for Pakistan is in question.