The acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi met with the Deputy Minister of the Council of Ministers of Turkmenistan and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov on Monday for talks on bilateral issues.

In this meeting chaired by the two foreign ministers, they discussed relations between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, raising the level of Afghanistan’s diplomatic presence in Ashgabat, and the practical start of the TAPI project in Afghanistan.

Comprehensive discussions were held regarding the increase of Turkmenistan’s imported electricity to Herat province, the rehabilitation of existing roads, the development of Afghanistan’s railways and Turkmenistan’s investment.

Muttaqi thanked his Turkmen counterpart for the invitation to visit the country and said that the increase in travel between officials of the two countries shows close and friendly relations.

Muttaqi requested that in order to increase bilateral trade, facilities should be provided for the issuance of Turkmen visas to Afghan businessmen and transport personnel.

He also thanked the Turkmen side for providing training to the railway personnel of Afghanistan and expressed the hope that Turkmenistan scholarships for Afghan students would increase.

In addition, Muttaqi provided information about Afghanistan’s preparations for the actual start of the TAPI project in Afghanistan and expressed the hope that in the near future both countries would be able to start practical work on the project.

Muttaqi also presented information on the progress of work at Noorul Jihad substation in Herat, and the need for more electricity in Herat province.

“One of the main pillars of the foreign policy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is economy-oriented, which focuses on regional economic connectivity, and the construction of highways and railways in Afghanistan is one of the priorities of the Emirate,” said Muttaqi.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs encouraged Turkmenistan to invest in the extension of the railway line between Turghandi-Herat city and Andakhoi-Shabarghan to Mazar-e-Sharif.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, in turn shed light on all relevant issues from his side.

Meredov said that increasing the country’s trade with Afghanistan is a strategic priority and both teams will work to facilitate the movement of Afghan businessmen and transport personnel to Turkmenistan.

Meredov showed his readiness to give scholarships to Afghan students in the fields of electricity, railways, transportation and gas.

He said that his country has done a lot of work on the TAPI project and teams from both countries will work to start practical work on TAPI in the territory of Afghanistan in the near future.

He said that TAPI is a big project and has strategic importance for Turkmenistan.

Meredov also said that their teams are working in Herat to increase the capacity of Noorul Jihad substation so that electricity can be increased in areas surrounding Herat city.

He said that the railway line to Afghanistan is of strategic importance to the country and the plan to increase the capacity of the railway station in Turghandi has been finalized, and hopefully work will soon start on this project.

The development of the lapis lazuli route was also discussed and it was agreed that a meeting of representatives of the five countries of the proposed route will be held in Ashgabat in the near future.

The two sides agreed to continue to work together on relevant fields at a high level so that practical steps can be taken in the interests of both countries.