Islamabad, June 7 (ANI): Bangladesh has decided to join the 7.5 billion dollar Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, which is backed by the United States and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
According to sources, Bangladesh has approached Turkmenistan, expressing the desire to import gas through the TAPI pipeline, which will start from the Daulatabad field of Turkmenistan, pass through Afghanistan and reach Pakistan and India, reports The Express Tribune.
"In response, Turkmenistan has asked Bangladesh to hold negotiations with Pakistan, India and Afghanistan before going for a deal for gas import," a senior government official was quoted, as saying.
"India could benefit if Bangladesh joins the project as Dhaka would have to pay transit fee to Delhi," the official added.
The U.S. is playing a key role in pushing the TAPI pipeline project in an apparent bid to drive Pakistan away from the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project as well as isolate Tehran. The U.S. has also told Pakistan that it could finance the TAPI pipeline while Islamabad is still struggling to secure financing for the Iran pipeline.
The TAPI project is expected to be completed by October 2017. (ANI)
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