Government officials of Turkmenistan and United Nations representatives have held a series of high-level meetings to advance the long-stalled Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, emphasizing its role in regional stability and economic recovery.

Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov met with UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo to discuss the realization of the massive energy infrastructure project, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

During the session, both sides underscored the importance of major regional infrastructure projects in fostering peace and sustainable development across Central and South Asia.

Foreign ministry officials noted that specific attention was directed toward overcoming geopolitical and logistical hurdles facing the TAPI pipeline.

In a separate diplomatic track, Turkmen representatives met with the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to align strategies on regional cooperation.

The newly appointed head of the UNAMA office in Herat, Pavel Yershov, met with Batyr Yyolov, the Consul General of Turkmenistan in Herat, to discuss Afghanistan’s broader economic recovery.

Participants in the Herat meeting focused heavily on the practical implementation of the TAPI project within Afghan territory.

UNAMA officials have increasingly viewed major infrastructure investments as vital mechanisms to stimulate the local economy and provide sustainable employment opportunities in the region.

The latest development comes just a few months after Afghan officials announced in late January that a 91-kilometre route was ready for pipe installation.

Aiming to transport approximately 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from the Galkynysh gas field in Turkmenistan, the proposed $10 billion TAPI pipeline has gained more interest due to the closure of the Hormuz Strait to maritime shipping.

The planned 1,800-kilometer (1,100-mile) route runs through Herat and Kandahar in Afghanistan, extends through Quetta and Multan in Pakistan, and concludes in Fazilka, India.

While construction on the Turkmen section began a decade ago, progress through Afghanistan and Pakistan has faced persistent delays due to security concerns and financing challenges.

However, the recent string of diplomatic engagements signals a renewed push by Ashgabat to secure international backing and UN institutional support to resume active development on the cross-border pipeline.