Sitting on the world's fourth largest natural gas reserves, Turkmenistan has finally kicked off the long-awaited TAPI pipeline project connecting Central Asia right down to South Asia via Afghanistan. 

Consisting of four countries, Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India, the TAPI project has been pending since the 1990s as instability in Afghanistan made any crossover route impossible. Stretching over a distance of 1800 kilometres to supply 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas every year from the world's second largest gas field Galkynysh to Fazilka near Pakistan's border with northern India, TAPI serves to open up the rich energy reserves of Central Asia to the region and beyond to Eurasia. 

Further down the road, it links up to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, one of the key corridors of the Belt and Road Initiative. 

Inaugurated by Afghanistan's President Ghani, the land-breaking ceremony took place in Herat last week and was attended by Pakistan's Prime Minister Abbasi, Turkmenistan's President Berdymukhamedov and the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar, amid an exceptional air of bonhomie. 

The laying of the Afghan section of the pipeline included a fibre-optic communication line on the same route, the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan power transmission line and the Serhetabat-Turgundi railroad, which were also commissioned on the same day. 

Observing that the pipeline would give a powerful impetus to the economic development of the region, the Turkmen president said, "The construction of the TAPI gas pipeline, the start of an important phase of which we will give together with the leaders of other countries on February 23, and which will deliver Turkmen gas to the countries of Asia, will be inscribed in gold letters in the history of our independent neutral state."

Struck by chronic energy shortfalls, Afghanistan will benefit from 5 billion cubic meters of gas itself, while the rest is to be equally divided between Pakistan and India. Constructed by a consortium with Turkmen state concern Turkmengaz in the lead, it has been financed by the ADB and a $700 million loan has been allocated by the Islamic Development Bank, though on the whole, TAPI stands to cost $8 billion. 

Advocating TAPI as a preferable alternative to the IPI-the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, the United States has also welcomed this project. Ostensibly having decided to set aside past issues with the Afghan Taliban, construction has already been initiated by the Afghan government even though the project traverses through hundreds of miles of Southern Afghanistan which is Taliban territory. Unexpectedly endorsing the venture as an important element of Afghanistan's infrastructure network and pledging to facilitate it, Taliban spokesman Yusuf Ahmadi has said, "We announce our cooperation in providing security for the project in areas under our control." 

Confidence building measures like these is what war-weary Afghanistan particularly needs. Hoping for a speedy return to normalcy, Jelani Farhad, a government spokesman in Herat voiced his sentiments, "It's a golden day for Afghanistan today, it will help our economy and create thousands of jobs." Indeed, the economic prospects are very encouraging as nearly 30,000 jobs would be created for Afghan workers, while the pipeline could generate $500 million in toll and transit rights.

Diplomatically tying up the region, this project could stabilize Afghanistan as well as improve relations between India and Pakistan. Helping Pakistan meet nearly 20 percent of its natural gas requirements and approximately 10 percent of its energy needs, Pakistan's Prime Minister Khaqan Abbasi visualized its growth, "TAPI will lead from a gas pipeline into an energy and communication corridor," adding that it would also lead to development of rail and road links.

Eventually linking up with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would sharply increase Central Asian connectivity, while the Gwadar port would prove the most efficient sea-link for Turkmenistan. Also providing India additional connectivity with Central Asia through Afghanistan, TAPI was well received by the Indian Minister for External Affairs M.J. Akbar as "a symbol of our goals" and "a new page in cooperation" between the four nations. 

Often called the "peace pipeline," the TAPI may hold the key to bringing the region closer for mutual benefits instead of bickering and engaging in hostilities, even though it is situated in a very tense, friction-ridden neighborhood. Having identical aims to those of the Belt and Road Initiative, this is the progress the world needs in this geo-economic century. 

Sabena Siddiqui (Twitter: @sabena_siddiqi) is a foreign affairs journalist and lawyer based in Pakistan.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

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