Apr 13: Pakistani, Turkmen and Afghan ministers met yesterday to discuss a multi-billion gas pipeline, in particular, the size of Turkmen gas reserves and security in volatile Afghanistan.

The long-delayed project envisages a $3.3 billion pipeline running 1,600 km (1,000 miles) through Afghanistan to Pakistan, providing Kabul with transit revenue and Pakistan with much needed energy.

Among reasons for the delay have been worry about security in Afghanistan and questions over the size of the reserves in Turkmenistan's Dauletabad gas field.

Pakistani Petroleum Minister Amanullah Khan Jadoon said progress was being made.

"The Afghan minister has given quite some surety and it appears to us too, that there is a lot of improvement in the situation over there," Jadoon told reporters after the ministers met in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.

"They are clearing the land mines and, as the minister said, it would improve considerably," he said.

According to Turkmen estimates Dauletabad has reserves of 1.7 trillion cubic metres, making it the world's fourth largest gas field, but Pakistan wants to be sure about that.

Energy-rich Turkmenistan, bordering Afghanistan and Iran, had long sought to free itself of its dependence on Russia's Soviet-era gas pipeline network.

Proposals to build a pipeline through Afghanistan were discussed in the 1990s when the Taliban ruled the country.

U.S. energy firm Unocal withdrew from a plan in 1998, in which it was to lead an international consortium, because of fighting between the Taliban and Afghan opposition groups and concern about the Taliban's human rights record and its sheltering of Osama bin Laden.

Jadoon said the Turkmen delegation presented some figures but had asked for another month to give a complete picture and Pakistani experts will visit the site to conduct some technical and geological checks.

Jadoon said Pakistan was under tremendous pressure to speed up pipeline projects to meet growing energy needs.

"It is our compulsion," he said adding that the country had to work simultaneously on pipeline projects from Iran and Qatar.

India is also hoping to get gas supplies via Pakistan, now that relations between the South Asian rivals are improving, but the United States has concerns over the proposed Iranian pipeline to India, while questions remain over Iran's nuclear programme.

Jadoon said the route of the Turkmen pipeline had also been discussed, with the southern Afghan province of Kandahar seen as most suitable for geographical reasons, despite security problems.

"It is more feasible, the one from Kandahar, because there are no mountains there, " he said.

Clashes erupt regularly in Kandahar between Taliban guerrillas and U.S and Afghan government troops.

Afghan officials want India to join the project but Indian officials have shown only cautious interest. Jadoon said Pakistan had no problem with Indian involvement.