Two ceremonies marking stages of work on the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline were held on 23 February 2018, one in Turkmenistan to mark completion of the Turkmen section of the pipeline, and the second in Afghanistan’s Herat province to mark the start work on the Afghan section.¹

From #TAPI to #Railway connectivity between Central #Asia to South Asia. Dream becoming true – as #AFGHANISTAN heart of ASIA pic.twitter.com/pYYW5GvemD

— Syed Anwar (@Sayed_Anwer) February 23, 2018

The events included a first train on the recently modernised railway between Serhetabat in Turkmenistan and the freight terminal just across the border at Torghundi in Afghanistan.²

Today we stepped forward wth another pragmatic action to connect north 2 south & replace negative security rivalry wth a positive economic cooperation.Todays #TAPI, TAP500, Railway & Fiber Optic inauguration in AFG soil proves our resolve commitment to economic integrated region. pic.twitter.com/EJnSRqQkOu

— Mirwais Nab (@nab_mn) February 23, 2018

TAPI, TAP500 & Railway will change the role of game in AFG & region. Durable stability comes through addressing poverty & unemployment.TAPI would provide 20000 job opportunities 2 AFG youth. Vital step 2 fight terrorism & extremism. No peace in absence of economic growth.

— Mirwais Nab (@nab_mn) February 23, 2018

Guests included the President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov; President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani; Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi; and India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Mobashar Jawed Akbar.

Multiple high-level events on mega energy, power transmission, fiber optics and railways took place today in Herat province between heads of states of Afghanistan 🇦🇫 Turkmenistan 🇹🇲 Pakistan 🇵🇰 India 🇮🇳 @RECCAfghanistan pic.twitter.com/cRBF0QrGc7

— Afghan Embassy AUS (@AfghanEmbassyAu) February 23, 2018

Goods expects to use the railway include oil products, food, industrial goods and construction materials.

Although described in some reports as “new” railway, the line dates from the Soviet area; it possibly opened in the in the mid to late 1950s, although I have been unable to confirm this. It has now been modernised by Turkmenistan’s national railway company at Turkmenistan’s expense as part of “comprehensive help and support to the people of Afghanistan”, following the 7th Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan that took place in Ashgabat in mid-November 2017.³

Railway from Turkmenistan to Torgundi of #Afghanistan's #Herat inaugurated

— 1TVNewsAF (@1TVNewsAF) February 23, 2018

The Afghan terminal is in Herat province, but is not in Herat city, which sometimes leads to confusion in news reports. There is also no consistency at all in the spelling of its name: Torghundi, Turghondi, Torghondi, Towraghondi, Turghundi, Torag Hundi, Turgundy, Tuurgundy…

I visited #Torghundi port in 2007, an empty & dry place with a small office, the contrast between two sides were huge: #AFG side being dry, dusty & dark while Turkmen side green, lighted & full of life! We envision #TAPI to enlighten our part too!

— Orzala (@Orzala) February 23, 2018

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