New Delhi has requested Turkmenistan to give equity in the exploration and production blocks to Gail

India wants a share in gas fields in Turkmenistan from where the proposed $9-billion transnational gas pipeline will cross terrorist-infested regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan to deliver gas across the Punjab border. “India is keen on stakes in Turkmenistan’s upstream assets. If it can offer stakes to China, it can also make exception for us,” said a senior government officials involved in implementation of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline project. Chinese firm CNPC is developing natural gas resources at Turkmenistan’s South Yolotan gas fields and has an agreement with state-run Turkmengaz to import natural gas.