- Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Holds High-Level Talks with Afghan Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar
MARY – National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov paid a working visit to Mary velayat on August 10 and subsequently traveled to Afghanistan from the Islim-Cheshme border area in Serhetabat Etrap.
During the visit, Berdimuhamedov met Afghan Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdul Ghani Baradar and held talks focused on strengthening bilateral relations, advancing major energy and transport projects, and expanding trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation.
At the border area, the Turkmen National Leader also met representatives of the younger generation from Afghanistan. At their request, he joined them for a commemorative group photograph and presented them with gifts. He and Baradar later welcomed members of the official delegations from both countries.
Strong Bonds of Friendship and Good-Neighborliness
Welcoming the Turkmen leader, Abdul Ghani Baradar highlighted the longstanding relations between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, describing them as being rooted in the shared history, cultural traditions and spiritual values of the two peoples.
Baradar also praised Turkmenistan’s peaceful foreign policy and its contribution to regional stability and sustainable development. He expressed appreciation for Turkmenistan’s continued humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people.
The Afghan deputy prime minister conveyed warm greetings and best wishes to President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov.
In response, Berdimuhamedov conveyed his greetings and best wishes to the Afghan leadership, emphasizing the close bonds between the two peoples. He described Turkmenistan and Afghanistan as brotherly countries and stressed that the common border should serve as a “border of friendship.”
TAPI Pipeline at the Center of Economic Cooperation
A major focus of the discussions was the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) gas pipeline, which both sides regard as a strategically important project for regional energy cooperation and economic integration.
The Serhetabat–Herat section of the pipeline, known as “Arkadagyň ak ýoly” (Arkadag’s White Path), was highlighted as an important symbol of Turkmen-Afghan cooperation and good-neighborly relations.
Baradar called for the establishment of a joint mechanism involving relevant institutions of the two countries 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 industry, particularly in view of the employment and technical requirements associated with the TAPI project.
Transport and Regional Connectivity
The talks also covered transport and logistics cooperation, with both sides emphasizing the importance of strengthening connectivity between Central and South Asia.
Particular attention was given to the Lapis Lazuli International Transit Corridor, established through a five-party agreement signed in Ashgabat in 2017. The corridor links Afghanistan with Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye, providing an important route for trade and regional connectivity.
Berdimuhamedov has previously advanced proposals aimed at increasing the efficiency and utilization of the corridor, which is viewed as an important component of broader efforts to develop regional transport networks.
Energy, Infrastructure and Economic Cooperation
The two sides reviewed cooperation in the fuel and energy sector, transport infrastructure and power development. Berdimuhamedov stressed the importance of implementing agreed priorities across these areas and further strengthening economic ties.
The Afghan side emphasized the need for greater institutional coordination to facilitate joint projects, while the Turkmen side proposed establishing a Turkmen-Afghan Commission on Economic Cooperation to strengthen the legal and institutional framework for bilateral economic relations.
The proposal is intended to provide a structured mechanism for expanding trade, investment and joint economic initiatives.
Education and Humanitarian Cooperation
The discussions also addressed cooperation in education, science and humanitarian affairs.
Both sides expressed interest in increasing the number of Afghan students studying in Turkmenistan and expanding the training of qualified Afghan specialists in various fields. Particular attention was given to technical and professional training for the gas sector in anticipation of employment opportunities linked to the TAPI project.
MoU Signed on Natural Gas Cooperation
Following the bilateral and expanded-format talks, verses from the Holy Quran were recited, followed by presentations highlighting progress on the Serhetabat–Herat section of the TAPI pipeline.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was subsequently signed between the State Concern “Türkmengaz” and Afghanistan’s State Corporation “Afghan Gas.”
The agreement marks another step toward strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the natural gas sector and advancing their broader energy partnership.
Commitment to Long-Term Partnership
The visit underscored the shared commitment of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan to deepening bilateral cooperation on the basis of friendship, mutual respect and good-neighborly relations.
Energy connectivity, transport corridors, trade, education and institutional cooperation emerged as key areas for future collaboration, with the TAPI pipeline and Lapis Lazuli corridor remaining central to the two countries’ regional economic vision.
Following the signing ceremony, Berdimuhamedov and Baradar attended a festive sadaka held in connection with the occasion.
The Turkmen National Leader later departed for Mary velayat, where official representatives saw him off at Mary International Airport. He subsequently returned to Ashgabat, where he was received by senior officials upon arrival at the capital’s International Airport.
BY: The Times Union
