ASHGABAT: National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held talks with Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdul Ghani Baradar during a working visit to Afghanistan on August 10, focusing on bilateral economic cooperation and progress on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline.
Berd Berdimuhamedov traveled from the Islim-Cheshme border area in Turkmenistan’s Serhetabat Etrap to Afghanistan, where he was received by Abdul Ghani Baradar and senior officials from both countries.
During the talks, both sides highlighted the TAPI pipeline, particularly the Serhetabat-Herat section, as a flagship project symbolizing Turkmen-Afghan cooperation and regional economic connectivity.
Baradar stressed the need for a joint mechanism between relevant agencies of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan to ensure regular coordination and accelerate implementation of the TAPI project. He also expressed Afghanistan’s interest in benefiting from Turkmenistan’s experience in training specialists for the gas sector.
The discussions covered broader cooperation in energy, transport, logistics, electricity, trade, education and humanitarian affairs. Both sides also emphasized the importance of the Lapis Lazuli international transport corridor connecting Afghanistan with Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye.
Berd Berdimuhamedov proposed establishing a Turkmen-Afghan Commission on Economic Cooperation to strengthen the legal and institutional framework for bilateral projects.
The two sides also discussed increasing the number of Afghan students studying in Turkmenistan and expanding specialist training, particularly for employment opportunities linked to the TAPI project.
The visit concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Turkmengaz State Concern and Afghanistan’s Afghan Gas State Corporation, aimed at strengthening cooperation in the gas sector.
The TAPI pipeline is envisioned as a major regional energy corridor transporting Turkmen natural gas through Afghanistan and Pakistan to India. Its successful implementation is expected to enhance regional energy connectivity, economic cooperation and transit links between Central and South Asia.
