ISLAMABAD, Jan 16: Pakistan and Afghanistan on Monday agreed to adopt international best practices for determination of transit fee for the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan gas pipeline project.

In a meeting between an Afghan delegation and the Pakistani side here, the two countries decided to take a joint stand on implementation of the pipeline as buyer countries, transit fee principles for use of their land and security for the pipeline at the forthcoming meeting of the project’s steering committee. The meeting will be held on Feb 13-15 in Ashkabad. Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan are members of the ministerial steering committee, the Asian Development Bank is its convener and India is expected to attend the meeting as observer.

The Afghan delegation was led by Minister for Mines and Industries Mir Mohammad Sadeq and the Pakistani side by Petroleum Minister Amanullah Khan Jadoon.

Under the proposed project, natural gas from Daultabad gas field in Turkmenistan would be delivered to Pakistan and India through Afghanistan, but certification of Turkmen gas reserves and security of the pipeline in Afghanistan are major hurdles.

Sources said the Afghan minister assured Pakistan that security of the pipeline was no more a problem as Kabul administration was expanding its road network across the country and establishing its writ in far-flung areas to be used for the pipeline.

The pipeline is to pass through Heart, Kandahar, Quetta and Multan to reach Indian border town of Fazilka.

The sources said Kabul sought Islamabad’s help in exploring minerals in Afghanistan. Pakistan agreed to send to Kabul shortly a team comprising directors-general of minerals and Geological Survey in this regard.