“This will provide the shortest route for the export of petrochemical resources from Central Asia to the Far East, Japan, and the West,” Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf was quoted by the Pakistani media as saying after signing the agreement. The estimated cost of the 1500-km gas pipeline project is put at $2-3 billion. According to the agreement, international tenders will be floated to invite companies to carry out the project, and the three countries will set in place the finance for the giant project. The agreement was signed by President Musharraf, Chairman of the Afghan interim administration Hamid Karzai, and Turkmenistan’s President, Supermurat Niyazov. President Musharraf said the three countries have decided to form three working groups encompassing the gas pipeline, and other road, rail, trade, and economic links.