The Russian special envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, has said that Moscow is interested in participating in the TAPI project.

In an interview with Russia 24 TV, Kabulov said that ensuring the security of TAPI in Afghanistan is one of the most important matters of the gas pipeline project.

“If requested by the project’s partners, including Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, Russia will join the project. The president of Russia has shown his readiness to cooperate in this project a few years ago, and we are interested in cooperation in the Asian economic sector. The key question about this project is security in the territory of Afghanistan, and this project can raise the economic status of Afghanistan,” Kabulov said.

The First Deputy Prime Minister’s office said in a statement that the Islamic Emirate guarantees the security of major projects, including TAPI.

According to the statement, there is now security and opportunity for the implementation of infrastructure projects.

“Afghanistan is a country that needs to grow and stand on its own, and we are in dire need of countries’ support, and we can provide them with all the facilities,” said Zabiullah Mujahid, the spokesman of the Islamic Emirate.

“TAPI is one of the most significant economic projects for our country, and its implementation will not only improve political dialogue and regional cooperation but also supply the necessary gas energy, enable the mining of the nation's gas reserves, and will create jobs,” said Abdurrahman Habib, a spokesperson for the ministry of economy. 

He said the project will create over 10,000 jobs during its implementation. 

Analysts said that an international agreement is necessary, particularly Asian Development Bank and its member nations, to allow more countries to join the TAPI project.

“I think the inclusion of new countries in this project is too late and requires global agreement and understanding, notably the Asian Development Bank, in addition to the member nations, to come to an understanding about this,” said Azerakhsh Hafezi, an economic affairs analyst.

The TAPI project is designed to pass through Afghanistan and Pakistan before reaching India from Turkmenistan. Afghanistan will make more than $400 million a year from the implementation of the project.