The implementation of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline is beneficial for the entire region, and Afghanistan alone will receive $1 billion in transit fees and royalties, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmoud Qureishi said on Thursday, the Pakistani Daily Times reported.

 Speaking to the media after meeting with President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Kureishi said that the TAPI project was expected to create 2,000 new jobs.

 The minister also mentioned that the TAPI project had been discussed in detail with the President of Turkmenistan.  The diplomat expressed satisfaction that the recent views expressed by Afghanistan showed the country's intention to support the implementation of the TAPI project.

 According to the minister, the issue of convening a meeting of foreign ministers of neighboring states to discuss the situation in Afghanistan would be considered in the near future.  He said Pakistan and Turkmenistan would continue to cooperate with special representatives from both sides to hold meetings on strengthening ties.

 Earlier, the official representative of the Qatari political office of the movement, Mohammad Sohail Shahin, said that the Taliban movement is interested in the construction of a transnational gas pipeline Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) and the implementation of other major infrastructure projects in the country.