An Afghan terrorist faction, Hezb-e-Islami, has voiced its backing for the construction of a multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline through Afghanistan and even pledged to provide security on a project stalled for over a decade by politics and violence. Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistain and India this month signed a preliminary agreement to push ahead with the TAPI pipeline, which is supported by Washington and would transport Turkmen gas over Afghan soil to consumers in India and Pakistain.
Hezb-e-Islami, a terrorist force separate from the Taliban and led by former prime minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar,
... who used to be known as
The Most Evil Man in the Worldbut who now seems merely run-of-the-mill evil...
announced its full backing for the project and volunteered to help protect it, in a surprise statement emailed late on Saturday night.
"Hezb-e-Islami strongly supports this deal on the basis of which Turkmenistan's gas will be exported through Afghanistan to Pakistain and India," the statement said.
"We are ready to help with the work arrangement and enforcement of security of the pipeline in areas where Hezb-e-Islami has influence."
The group does not control most of the proposed route, which runs through the Taliban heartland in southern Helmand and Kandahar provinces. The government says it would bury the pipeline up to two metres underground there to ensure security.
But Hezb-e-Islami is active around western Herat, where the gas would begin its journey through Afghanistan and some former members have joined Taliban ranks in the south.
Supporting the pipeline could be a tactical move for a group, which has said it is open to the possibility of peace talks and may be aiming to position itself as a responsible player concerned about Afghanistan's economic health.