Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, has accepted Fazl Mohammad Sabir as the Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) in Ashgabat.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, Meredov said at a ceremony on the occasion that Turkmenistan and Afghanistan are planning to implement major projects, so it is necessary to increase the level of diplomatic relations.

He expressed hope that with the joint diplomatic efforts of the two countries, the practical work of the TAPI gas pipeline, TAPI power transmission and railway between Torghundi and Herat will begin soon.

The Islamic Emirate took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, but no country has recognized it as a government.

But some countries in the region have established closer relations with the Islamic Emirate than others.

In December last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping accepted Asadullah Bilal Karimi’s credentials as Afghanistan’s ambassador to Beijing.

Related stories:

China’s president accepts credentials for Afghanistan’s envoy to Beijing

Russia continues to work on removing IEA from list of banned groups: Kabulov

The U.S. Congressional Human Rights Commission said in a statement it will hold a meeting on Tuesday this week to review the situation of Afghan women.

This meeting will be held on Tuesday next week with the presence of Rina Amiri, the US special representative for Afghan women’s affairs, Heather Barr, director of the Women’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch and a number of other Afghan women.

Based on the statement of the commission, the participants of this meeting will review the human rights issues including the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan and provide recommendations for the action of the US Congress.

“Since August 2021, the situation of Afghan women and girls has significantly worsened. A growing list of severe restrictions imposed by the Taliban has severely reduced women’s ability to participate in public life,” the statement read.

This commission also pointed to the prohibition of women from work and denial of access to education, adding that the control over women’s private lives has increased.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate has always rejected concerns about the violation of women’s rights in Afghanistan and emphasized that it is committed to respecting women’s rights in accordance with Islamic Sharia.

Pakistan and Turkmenistan agreed on Wednesday to fast-track a major pipeline project that will allow the Central Asian state to supply natural gas to Pakistan and India via Afghanistan, thereby enhancing economic activity across the region and benefiting all involved countries.

The understanding between the two states was reached during a meeting between Federal Minister for Petroleum Dr. Musadik Malik and Turkmenistan’s Foreign Affairs Rasit Meredow who arrived on a two-day visit to Islamabad on Tuesday.

The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline will originate from Galkynysh, the world’s second-biggest gas field, and end at the Indian city of Fazilka near the Pakistan border.

If the project is implemented, it will help Turkmenistan supply about 33 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas each year along a route covering a distance of over 1,800 kilometers.

According to an official statement released by the Ministry of Energy’s Petroleum Division, Pakistan and Turkmenistan are working to “expedite” the pipeline project.

“TAPI pipeline project will lower energy costs, which can boost industrial growth, create jobs and foster economic development,” it quoted Pakistan’s petroleum minister as saying during the meeting. “Reliable and affordable energy supplies are vital for industrial sectors and overall economic stability.”

“This project, aimed at fostering economic integration and energy security, has witnessed substantial progress through collaborative efforts,” he continued, stressing the importance of continued engagement between the two countries.

Malik added Pakistan was fully committed to the project which was vital for regional energy cooperation and infrastructure development.

The visiting dignitary expressed appreciation for the warm welcome extended to his delegation by the Pakistani authorities.

“Together we will chalk out a roadmap for cooperation between both countries,” he added.

The meeting was also attended by the CEO of TAPI Pipeline Company Limited.

Other participants of the meeting emphasized the project’s strategic importance in enhancing regional connectivity, promoting economic growth and meeting the energy demands of participating nations.

The TAPI project was envisaged in the early 1990s and officially agreed upon in December 2010.

It has primarily been delayed due to security concerns, geopolitical tensions, funding challenges and bureaucratic hurdles.

Related Stories: 

Acting FM discusses TAPI project with Turkmenistan’s envoy in Kabul

TAPI gas company CEO satisfied with project’s progress