Despite Taliban threat, India hopeful of TAPI line

Vice-president Hamid Ansari, who along with Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was present at Sunday’s ground-breaking ceremony, expressed faith in the smooth completion of the project, saying that the Turkmenistan side was “very keen” to ensure its execution. “TAPI has been on for some time — we took the decision (to partner the project) in 2008. If the project goes through it will be a great thing,” he told newspersons accompanying the Indian delegation.

Referring to apprehensions about a possible Taliban strike, he admitted, “There are misguided elements everywhere. But the Turkmenistan President says it can be done, I believe it can be done.’’ The TAPI project would allow for revival of the old trade route between India and Central Asia,” he added.