Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Nov. 26
By Huseyn Hasanov– Trend:
Turkmenistan is committed to open door policy and the equal, mutually beneficial cooperation with all the countries, including Afghanistan, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said at a meeting of the cabinet of ministers, the Turkmen government said in a message.
He said that Turkmenistan is tied with Afghanistan by unbreakable bonds of friendship and centuries-old historical and cultural unity.
The preparation for the commissioning of the first stage of the Asia International Railway Corridor (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Tajikistan railroad) was discussed at the governmental meeting.
Construction of this main pipeline was launched June 5, 2013 with the participation of the presidents of Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
Construction of Atamyrat-Imamnazar (Turkmenistan)-Akina (Afghanistan) section of the railway has been currently completed. Turkmenistan is tied with Afghanistan by the largest energy project as well. Construction of the Turkmen section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline was launched December 13, 2015.
It is planned to commission the pipeline with a capacity of 33 billion cubic meters of gas per year in December 2019. Turkmen gas will help meet the growing need for natural gas in India and Pakistan, where these needs can grow twice by 2030. In addition, it will reduce the deficit of energy resources in Afghanistan as well.