KABUL - President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said the pipeline project to pump natural gas from Turkmenistan to India via Afghanistan and Pakistan (TAPI) is not against the interests of neighboring gas-rich Iran, IRNA reported Tuesday.

'Iran is implementing various projects in the field of energy and will emerge as an important regional player,' he said at a press conference to mark inauguration of the gasline project.

'This project bears no danger to any country as Iran is carrying out the plan to transfer its gas to India via seabed,' he replied to a question.

The 1,735-km long TAPI gas pipeline faces challenges including security concerns along its route.

Afghanistan's Presidential Office on Sunday reacted angrily after Pakistan's defense minister said Islamabad will urge Taliban to help to the security of the pipeline. (Monitoring Desk)