ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Islamabad is anxious about the security situation for a natural gas pipeline planned through its western neighbor's territory, the finance ministry said.
Afghan, Pakistani, Indian and Turkmen delegates gathered in Ashgabat for a conference to advance a multinational natural gas pipeline in early December.
The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India, dubbed by New Delhi as a new "silk road," will transport natural gas from Turkmenistan's Dauletabad gas field.
Islamabad, however, wants Washington to help ensure the pipeline's section through Afghanistan is secure, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing the Pakistani finance ministry.
The planned route of the project takes it through Afghanistan's Kandahar province, where the Taliban are fighting international forces and the Afghan government.
Critics note that Afghanistan doesn't have the infrastructure needed to host the pipeline and security in the country is a major concern. Kabul said it would commit troops to guard the pipeline when construction starts in 2012, however.
Robert Blake, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs, said last week that the project was worth the headache.
"The road ahead is long for this project but the benefits could be tremendous and are certainly worthy of the diligence and interest demonstrated by these four countries so far," he was quoted as saying.
