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It is official—no longer a matter of speculation or conspiracy
theorizing. Afghanistan and three neighbouring countries have decided to
construct a $7.6 billion (U.S.) pipeline that would deliver natural gas
from Turkmenistan to energy-hungry Pakistan and India. The conduit would
run right through the current war zone of Kandahar province, making it
all too clear why Canadian armed forces are there.
To be ready for construction in 2010, the Afghan puppet government of
Hamid Karzai has reportedly given assurances that the route will be
cleared of land mines and popular resistance (what Kabul calls
"Taliban influence").
Energy economist John Foster says in a report for the Canadian Centre for
Policy Alternatives that the pipeline is part of a wider struggle by the
United States to counter the influence of Russia and Iran over energy trade
in the region. The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI)
pipeline is strongly supported by Washington because the U.S. government
is eager to block a competing pipeline that would bring gas to Pakistan
and India from Iran. The TAPI line would also reduce Russia’s dominance
of Central Asian energy exports.
With the backing of the Manila-based Asian Development Bank, ministers
from the four countries met in late April and agreed to start
construction by 2010, and begin supplying gas by 2015, although critical
financial, not to mention security issues remain unresolved.
That’s where the Canadian forces remain in the picture—as a pipeline
protection force.
Backed by the opposition
Liberals, the Conservative government has committed to keeping troops in
Afghanistan until 2011, although there is growing skepticism that the
occupation will end at that point. And now we know why—almost officially.
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