Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Jan. 16
By Huseyn Hasanov– Trend:
A delegation of Turkmenistan headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov paid a two-day visit to Islamabad on Jan. 15-16, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in a message Jan. 16.
The Pakistani side was represented at the talks by Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif.
“Particular attention was paid to the implementation of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project and other important joint projects, in particular, in the field of electric power industry and communications, the transport and communications sector,” the message said.
An exchange of views took place on international and regional issues, on strengthening joint actions to counter modern challenges and threats.
Speaking about the strategic importance of bilateral relations, the sides noted the role of visits at the highest level. Following the consultations, a ceremony of signing an intergovernmental agreement on the abolition of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic passports was held.
The delegation of Turkmenistan also held meetings with President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Pakistani Oil Minister Jam Kamal Khan.
Construction of the Turkmen section of the TAPI gas pipeline began in December 2015. The design capacity of TAPI reaches 33 billion cubic meters of gas per year.
The pipeline is scheduled to run along the Kandahar-Herat Highway in western Afghanistan, and further through the cities of Quetta and Multan in Pakistan. The pipeline’s route will end in the Indian city of Fazilka.