On 30 and 31 October, 2021 the Turkmen delegation headed by Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov paid a working visit to Afghanistan.
According to TOLO News, at the airport Meredov was welcomed by Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
The key topic of talks with high-ranking officials was the implementation of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline (TAPI).In particular, at the press conference devoted to the outcomes of the negotiations Muttaqi said that the implementation of the project in Afghanistan would start soon.
In addition, the construction of railroads and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan power lines were also on the agenda.
“We discussed how to strengthen the projects that had already started”, – Muttaqi said and added that Meredov had invited him to visit Turkmenistan.
Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reports that the TAPI and TAP construction were discussed at the meeting between the Foreign Ministries of the two states.
At the meeting with high-ranking officials of Afghanistan held on 31 October, 2021 the agenda included security and humanitarian aid supplies as well as intensifying the construction of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) power transmission line and the railroad from Turkmenistan to provinces of Afghanistan.
“We want to launch national projects between the two countries as soon as possible because all necessary conditions have been created for their implementation, including security”, said Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan’s Minister of Defense Mohammad Yaqoob and acting Minister of the Interior Minister of Interior Affairs Sirajuddin Haqqani also said that the security of all joint economic projects will be ensured. “We will spare no effort to ensure the security of infrastructure and economic projects between the two countries”, the Afghan Minister of Defense said.
On 15 August, “Taliban” militants took full control of Kabul within a few hours with almost no fighting.
On 17 August, 2021, an official representative of the Qatar political office of the Talibam Muhammad Suhail Shaheen said that Taliban was interested in building the TAPI pipeline and in the implementation of other large-scale infrastructure projects in the country.
On 29 September, 2021 acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi had a detailed discussion of the TAPI gas pipeline construction with the Turkmen Ambassador.
On 27 October, 2021 acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum Mohammed Isa Akhund discussed the TAPI implementation with the Ambassador of Turkmenistan Khodzha Ovezov. The post Afghanistan promises Meredov to launch the TAPI construction soon first appeared on Chronicles of Turkmenistan.