Afghan, Turkmen officials discuss TAPI, electricity, railways

Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister, Rashid Meredov, who is leading a delegation to Kabul, met with Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund on Saturday to discuss a range of issues including the provision of humanitarian aid.

Discussions were also held on economic, security, and commercial matters, said Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) in a series of tweets.

Mujahid said that both sides pledged that the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline project needs to get underway soon.

He said they also agreed that Turkmenistan-Herat and Turkmenistan- Jawzjan railway lines need to be built as soon as possible, while the Turkmen side pledged to provide humanitarian aid.

“Turkmenistan’s side pledged that [they] will provide extended humanitarian aid to Afghanistan in this difficult situation,” said Mujahid.

According to Mujahid, the Turkmen delegation said that no country should interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.

The delegation added that efforts are underway to provide Herat province with 500 KW of electricity. This supply will be rolled out in the near future, he said.