The resumption of major transit and energy projects in South Asia, such as CASA-1000, the TAPI Pipeline, and the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TUTAP) electricity transmission line, has recently been announced by the International Energy Agency (IEA) Deputy Prime Minister’s Office. This has important implications for the region’s energy and development landscape.
It is imperative that these Central Asia-South Asia power projects resume, not just as crucial infrastructure initiatives but also as strategically vital projects that offer considerable prospects for Pakistan’s and Afghanistan’s entwined fates. It emphasizes the need for a unified front to allay security worries and open the door for mutual advancement.
Historical ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been marked by contiguous borders, close cultural links, and interdependence. Together, these two countries have overcome many obstacles and achieved great success, forging a partnership that transcends centuries. The idea of Pakistan and Afghanistan having a common destiny is more than just a slogan; it is evidence of their unbreakable bond. This shared destiny is of utmost significance for maintaining regional peace in an area that is frequently unstable.
Pakistan sincerely wishes that Afghanistan shares its objectives for development and prosperity. Afghanistan can improve its own energy security as well as the stability and growth of the entire region by actively taking part in and committing to energy programs like CASA-1000, TAPI, and TUTAP. This partnership has the potential to be a potent agent of change, promoting both economic growth and closer ties between these two adjacent countries.
Electricity will be transmitted more easily from Central Asia to South Asia thanks to the CASA-1000. Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and the Kyrgyz Republic are the nations taking part in this project. Instead of increasing the producing capacity as part of this project, more electricity would be sent to Pakistan and Afghanistan.
By enhancing Afghanistan’s domestic infrastructure, the TUTAP aims to supply power from Central Asia to Afghanistan and Pakistan. The TUTAP project intends to establish a unified national grid in Afghanistan that will increase the flexibility and efficiency of the electricity transmission. While the CASA-1000 will provide a new energy source, the TUTAP will concentrate on enhancing Afghanistan’s infrastructure for energy supply. The enhanced Afghan infrastructure will transport electricity from Central Asia to Pakistan.
Turkmenistan will provide natural gas to India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan through TAPI. The proposed pipeline will transport 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually over 1,600 km of length. 14 billion cubic meters per year make up Pakistan’s contribution to this project. Once finished, the project will enable Turkmenistan to supply up to 4,000 megawatts of electricity to Pakistan and Afghanistan.
If peace is achieved, regional connectivity initiatives may boost the economies of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The achievement of Pakistan’s 2025 strategy, which aims to revitalize transportation infrastructure and expand regional connectivity by using Afghanistan as a gateway, depends critically on these opportunities. Additionally, this might allow Pakistan to concentrate more on geo-economics than geopolitics.
Afghanistan’s economy is severely constrained by a lack of accessible, dependable electricity. In Afghanistan, connecting a business to the electrical grid costs around $14,000, which is more than 2,000 percent of the nation’s per capita income, according to the World Bank’s 2019 Doing Business survey.
The people on both sides will gain from normalizing relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, thus it’s crucial for this to happen. Sincere steps must be taken to avoid finger-pointing and promote an area with greater economic growth.
