Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund met with the Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan
2026-02-01
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund met with the Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan
The Deputy PM for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, today Sunday, February 1, 2026, met in Herat Province with the Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Mr. Rashid Meredov.
The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Mines and Petroleum of Afghanistan, Mullah Hedayatullah Badri; the Minister of Water and Energy, Mullah Mohammad Younus Akhundzada; the Minister of Transport and Railways of Turkmenistan; the Minister of State and the Head of the Turkmen Gas State Company; and a number of Afghan and Turkmen officials.
During the meeting, discussions were held between the two sides regarding the TAPI, TAP, railway, and electricity projects.
The Deputy PM for Economic Affairs stated that the commencement of the TAPI project has created opportunities for expanding relations among Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and countries of the region, and that the Saudi Arabian company Delta International has also expressed interest in investing in this project. According to him, Delta International is interested in investing in the purchase of gas under the TAPI project, increasing the capacity of Turkmenistan’s major gas block, constructing and extending the gas pipeline from Guzara District of Herat Province to Spin Boldak District of Kandahar Province, from Spin Boldak onward to the Indian border, and establishing a large and modern gas hub at Gwadar Port in Pakistan.
The Deputy PM for Economic Affairs also requested Turkmenistan to clarify its position to Afghanistan regarding the construction of the Torghundi–Herat railway project, as Kazakhstan has also shown strong interest in the implementation of this project.
He further expressed Afghanistan’s full readiness to finalize the route map of the TAP project and, in addition, assured full cooperation from the Afghan side for the transfer of electricity to Bala Murghab, Khamab, and Qarqin districts, as well as for the initiation of other regional connectivity projects. He also emphasized the provision of employment opportunities for Afghans within the ongoing projects between the two countries.
Subsequently, the Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Mr. Rashid Meredov, spoke. He thanked the Islamic Emirate for providing a favorable environment for the implementation of the TAPI project and stated that by the end of the current year, work on the project would reach the center of Herat Province. He welcomed the interest of foreign companies in investing in the TAPI project and added that close cooperation should be carried out in this regard.
He also expressed Turkmenistan’s readiness to invest in the Torghundi–Herat railway project and stated that practical work has already begun in Torghundi. He added that his country is ready to transmit electricity to Afghanistan through five routes and to increase its capacity.
In addition, the two sides discussed the expansion of trade, banking cooperation, the creation of employment opportunities, and joint efforts in managing economic projects across various sectors.
It is noteworthy that at the end of the meeting, the technical teams of both countries shared detailed information with the participants regarding the work progress of the ongoing projects.
