Following this meeting, Foreign Minister Meredow "said that Turkmenistan is ready to begin work on the TAPI project in Afghanistan with the aim of developing political and economic relations.

"[6] The roots of this project lie in the involvement of international oil companies in Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan beginning of 1990s.

In January 1998, the Taliban, selecting CentGas over Argentinian competitor Bridas Corporation, signed an agreement that allowed the proposed project to proceed.

[11] In 2005, the Asian Development Bank submitted the final version of a feasibility study designed by British company Penspen.

The project has drawn strong US support as it would allow the Central Asian republics to export energy to Western markets "without relying on Russian routes".

Then-US Ambassador to Turkmenistan Tracey Ann Jacobson noted, "We are seriously looking at the project, and it is quite possible that American companies will join it".

[12] On 24 April 2008, Pakistan, India and Afghanistan signed a framework agreement to buy natural gas from Turkmenistan.

[14] However, in April 2012, India and Afghanistan have failed to agree on transit fee for gas passing through Afghan territory.