Evaluation of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Gas Pipeline (Case Study of Complex Negotiation in Building the (TAPI) Gas Pipeline)

Abstract

The objective of this research paper is to evaluate the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline which has been under the discussion for more than 20 years. TAPI gas pipeline is proposed to transfer gas from Turkmenistan to India and Pakistan through Afghanistan. The idea of this pipeline was proposed in early 90s but due to security, political and geopolitical reasons this project was not initiated. Recently there have been some very positive and determined steps taken by the representatives of the four participating states in order to get started as soon as possible. This paper overall evaluates the proposed pipeline that how feasible it is both economically and geo-politically. It also discusses the economic prosperities which this gas pipeline will bring to the region. Moreover, I also compared it with Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline which is considered a rival gas pipeline for TAPI. I have also complex negotiations model to show thoroughly what problems TAPI gas pipeline confronted in the past and what possible solutions were sorted out in order to tackle those problems. At the end of the paper, based on various lessons learnt, recommendations have been given for the better implementation of the project.