Taliban officials and Turkmen representatives have met to discuss accelerating construction on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project in western Afghanistan, local officials said on Saturday.

The Taliban governor of Herat province, Noor Ahmad Islamjar, met with the TAPI pipeline project head, Baganj Abdullahyov, to review progress and enhance coordination on the major energy initiative.

According to a statement from the governor’s office, Islamjar emphasized the urgent need to speed up the project's implementation.

Construction on the Afghan section of the pipeline is currently progressing at an average rate of about 500 meters (1,640 feet) per day, according to the Taliban Ministry of Mines and Petroleum.

Officials expect the portion of the pipeline running through Herat province to be completed in early 2027. In January 2026, Turkmen officials named the TAPI gas pipeline as a top priority for the country, paving the way for an expedited implementation.

Regarded as one of Central and South Asia's most critical energy initiatives, the multi-billion-dollar TAPI pipeline is designed to transport natural gas from Turkmenistan's massive fields through Afghanistan and into Pakistan and India.

The pipeline is expected to generate significant transit revenues for cash-strapped Afghanistan, create thousands of local jobs, and strengthen regional economic ties.

Beyond the pipeline’s technical progress, the two sides discussed broader bilateral economic relations and increased cooperation between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan.

The statement noted that plans are underway to host a joint Afghan-Turkmen trade exhibition at a border point between the two countries to further boost economic activity.

The ambitious project has faced years of delays due to security concerns, political instability, and financing hurdles across the region.

However, recent meetings indicate a renewed push by both Kabul and Ashgabat to advance the infrastructure development despite ongoing diplomatic isolation for the Taliban administration.