Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Made a Working Visit to Afghanistan and Held Talks with Abdul Ghani Baradar
On August 10, National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, made a working visit to the Mary Province, from where he traveled to Afghanistan from the Islim-Cheshme border area of Serhetabat, Takhtabazar Etrap.
During the visit, he held bilateral talks with Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Afghanistan for Economic Affairs. The discussion focused on the comprehensive advancement of key energy, transport, and infrastructure projects that form the foundation of regional development.
Particular emphasis was placed on the progress of the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) gas pipeline project and its key section, Serhetabat–Herat, known as "Arkadagyň Ak ýoly."
Abdul Ghani Baradar emphasized the historic significance of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's visit to inspect the pipeline's construction, noting that work on the TAPI pipeline in Herat is progressing according to schedule. The Afghan side views TAPI, the construction of the power transmission line (TAP), and the fiber-optic communication network as a powerful tool for expanding the bilateral partnership. Implementing these initiatives will address energy supply issues, create thousands of new jobs, and open up opportunities for local investors in natural gas electricity generation.
To expedite the process, it was proposed to establish a joint working mechanism between the relevant agencies of the two countries. Furthermore, the Afghan side expressed interest in studying Turkmenistan's experience in training qualified personnel for the gas sector.
The second key area of focus for the negotiations was the transport and logistics sector. The parties discussed the use of the Turkmenbashi International Seaport for the transit of Afghan goods and the intensification of contacts along the international multimodal corridor "Lapis Lazuli".
The National Leader of the Turkmen People confirmed Ashgabat's readiness to provide all necessary port infrastructure to increase transit and trade volumes, emphasizing that the border between the two countries remains a boundary of peace, friendship, and good-neighborliness.
As part of the talks, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Turkmengas State Concern and the Afghan Gas State Corporation of the neighboring country. According to the Memorandum, the parties agreed to work together to create specialized infrastructure in Herat Province and supply industrial enterprises, power plants, and the population with Turkmen gas.
