Taliban, Pakistani Officials Discuss Gas Pipeline

The Taliban's minister for mines and industries began meetings with Pakistani officials yesterday to strategize how they might speed up construction of a gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan.

Such a pipeline would carry about 20 billion cubic meters of gas each year and could generate hundreds of millions of dollars for the fundamentalist Taliban militia. The pipeline would be built in western and southern areas of Afghanistan that are currently under the Taliban's control.

Since U.S.-based Unocal dropped out of a consortium of international companies interested in building the pipeline called CENTGAS, Argentine company Bridas has taken over its leadership role.

Past Stories on Pipeline:
Unocal May Rejoin Pipeline Project
Bridas Ready to Build Pipeline Through Afghanistan

Media Resources: NNI - April 26, 1999

© Feminist Majority Foundation, publisher of Ms. magazine

If you liked this story, consider making a tax-deductible donation to support Ms. magazine.