Afghanistan and Turkmenistan have held discussions on the development of the Herat gas pipeline and the expansion of gas distribution networks, as Kabul seeks to attract investment and introduce modern technologies to the country’s energy sector.

Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, Chief Executive Officer of the state-owned Afghan Gas Company, held talks with officials from Turkmenistan’s state-owned Turkmengaz company and representatives of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project during a visit to Turkmenistan, where he attended the country’s international oil and gas conference.

According to Afghanistan’s General Directorate of State-Owned Companies, the discussions focused on issues related to gas transmission and distribution, as well as the use of advanced equipment and internationally recognized technical standards in the sector.

Mansour reportedly identified the adoption of modern technologies in gas extraction, transmission and distribution as a key priority for Afghan Gas.

Focus on Investment and Technical Cooperation

During the visit, the Afghan Gas chief also met with representatives of international companies to explore opportunities for technical and commercial cooperation.

The discussions emphasized direct cooperation, the exchange of technical expertise and experience, and the adoption of new technologies. Mansour also highlighted the importance of attracting investment to Afghanistan’s gas sector.

The General Directorate of State-Owned Companies said the meetings provided an opportunity to strengthen ties with international firms, identify potential areas for joint cooperation and present investment opportunities in Afghanistan’s gas industry.

TAPI Project Remains a Key Regional Energy Initiative

The TAPI gas pipeline project is designed to transport natural gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India, making it one of the region’s major energy cooperation initiatives.

The expansion of gas transmission infrastructure and distribution networks could help improve access to energy in Afghanistan while creating opportunities for investment and strengthening regional economic cooperation.

Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, says 1,119 Afghan civilians have been killed or injured in Pakistani military attacks on Afghanistan since the beginning of 2022.

In an interview with CNN, Balkhi said women and children accounted for most of the casualties.

He also referred to a Pakistani military strike on the Omid Addiction Treatment Centre in Kabul, claiming that hundreds of people were killed in the attack.

“Rather than making unsubstantiated allegations, Pakistan should address its security challenges through responsible engagement with its own people and genuine diplomacy with Afghanistan,” Balkhi told CNN.

His remarks come amid continued tensions between Kabul and Islamabad over security concerns.

Swissinfo has reported that documents obtained under transparency laws show Swiss officials cooperated with representatives of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in 2025 to identify and deport a number of Afghan nationals. The move has raised concerns over the safety of deportees and the possibility of legitimizing the Islamic Emirate.

According to Swissinfo, four representatives of the Islamic Emirate visited Geneva from August 19 to 21, 2025, to verify the identities of 13 Afghan nationals whom the Swiss government intended to deport.

Citing documents obtained by the WAV investigative group, the report says that, contrary to previous statements by the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), the delegation from the Islamic Emirate spent two nights at the Mövenpick Hotel in Geneva. The trip reportedly cost the Swiss government 13,490 Swiss francs, equivalent to approximately $16,250.

According to the published documents, Swiss officials provided the Islamic Emirate with information about the individuals scheduled for deportation before the interviews took place.

Each of the four delegation members also received 150 Swiss francs per day as an allowance. Swiss officials said the payments were intended to cover expenses related to meetings and local transportation.

The report says that representatives of the Islamic Emirate identified eight of the 13 individuals as Afghan nationals. Following further checks, the identity of one additional person was confirmed. However, the delegation issued documents for six individuals.

The Swiss State Secretariat for Migration has confirmed that three Afghan men have been deported to Afghanistan following the process, adding that preparations for further deportations are ongoing.

According to Swissinfo, several asylum law experts and human rights organizations have expressed concern over the disclosure of asylum seekers’ personal information to officials of the Islamic Emirate.

Swiss officials, meanwhile, have said they have received no adverse reports concerning individuals who voluntarily returned to their home countries. They have also emphasized that the deportations in question were carried out on the basis of judicial rulings issued in Switzerland.

According to Swissinfo, some politicians and legal experts fear that such cooperation could contribute to normalizing relations with the Islamic Emirate and granting it legitimacy.

Jean Tschopp, a member of the Swiss parliament from the Social Democratic Party, said that if the published details are confirmed, the actions would go beyond providing consular services to facilitate the return of Afghan nationals.

In response, SEM stressed that issuing visas to members of the Islamic Emirate’s delegation did not amount to recognizing the Islamic Emirate as the government of Afghanistan.

Switzerland resumed deportations of Afghan men whose asylum applications had been rejected in April 2025. The decision has also faced opposition from several human rights organizations.

Swissinfo concludes that the documents raise serious questions about how Swiss officials cooperate with the Islamic Emirate, how asylum seekers’ personal information is protected, and what measures are in place to ensure the safety of people returned to Afghanistan.