The issue was raised by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Meredov at the High-Level Meeting on Afghanistan.
The Turkmen authorities intend to expand cooperation with the Afghan government on ensuring peace in the IRA and the construction of the TAPI gas pipeline. The focus will also be made on humanitarian ties. The topic was raised by the head of the MFA of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov during the High-Level Meeting on Afghanistan on November 23-24, as reported by the press office of the diplomatic service.
The Turkmen official noted that Turkmenistan is committed to using diplomatic and political instruments to resolve the situation in Afghanistan. As an example, he pointed to major projects in the field of energy, transport, communications, which are implemented in the IRA with the support of Ashgabat.
The Minister also marked the effectiveness of the work of the Joint Turkmen-Afghan Commission on Security Cooperation. In this regard, the emphasis was placed on the commitment of Turkmenistan to the UN counter-terrorism strategy. The official added that Ashgabat is ready to provide a platform for holding inter-Afghan negotiations.
Meredov identified three main instruments for restoring peace in Afghanistan — political mechanisms, state involvement in the processes of the world economy, and humanitarian aid.
He underlined that over the past years, Turkmenistan has built a school for girls in Balkh province, a hospital in Faryab province, and a maternity hospital in the Herat region of IRA. Besides, the construction of a 500-seat mosque has been finished. Particular attention was paid to humanitarian assistance programs for Afghanistan over the next few years.
The Foreign Minister also drew attention to the fact that in 2021 Turkmenistan will start the construction of TAPI on the territory of the IRA. He also noted the importance of constructing the power transmission lines and fiber-optic communications along the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan route.
Touching upon the topic of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Tajikistan railway, Meredov stressed that the Akin-Andkhoy railway section will be completed in the coming days. As of November 24, the Turkmen authorities have allocated 1.25 billion dollars for projects with the participation of the IRA, said Meredov.
It must be added that on the same day, the Turkmen Embassy in Pakistan held negotiations on the preparation and conclusion of a free trade agreement between the countries. The process will create a transport-transit corridor Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan for the free shipping of goods.
