Much fanfare but little concrete is being done
Turkmenistan has enough gas. Afghanistan, Pakistan and India are energy deficient. The TAPI gas pipeline project therefore makes economic sense. Once completed the project could be a major factor for promoting peace and stability in the region and boosting cooperation among the participating countries. The implementation of TAPI has however faced problems, security situation in Afghanistan being one, securing funds for the project another.
In February this year the steering committee comprising relevant ministers from the four countries held its 20th meeting in Islamabad. It agreed on a timeline, announcing the exact date on which various processes related to the project had to be completed. The final deadline for the project’s completion was set as October 2019. Announcing the decision Shahid Khaqan Abbasi hoped that the project would be completed a month or two before the deadline.
Mian Nawaz Sharif thinks the deadline is too far away. Hopes about the construction of Pak-Iran gas pipeline in the near future received a setback this month after Obama renewed the unilateral US restrictions on purchases of oil and oil products from Iran. If the TAPI follows the prescribed timeline, Pakistan will not be able to have gas from this project during the tenure of the PML-N. The main purpose behind Nawaz Sharif’s visit appears to be to push Turkmenistan to fast-track the implementation of TAPI. Some would maintain the visit was gratuitous as the issue had been settled at the competent forum after necessary discussion.
UN Security Council reforms were the other issue discussed. Sharif stressed that reforms should be equitable and particularly take into account the interests of smaller states. The Prime Minister is known for creating a record of foreign tours. During a year and half he made 22 visits costing national exchequer Rs350 million. The UN has 193 members and if every head of state is to be persuaded by the Prime Minister himself, Nawaz Sharif will have pretty little time left to look after his own country.
