The results of the Turkmen-Afghan negotiations held in Kabul by the delegation of Turkmenistan are aimed at expanding effective partnership in priority areas.  This was announced at a press conference by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov and acting  Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaki, the website of the Foreign Ministry of Turkmenistan reports.

 The foreign ministers of the two countries also noted the positive and constructive nature of the current dialogue.

 As noted, from October 30 to 31, the Turkmen delegation headed by Vice-Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov paid a working visit to Afghanistan.  Within the framework of the visit, R. Meredov held a number of meetings with high-ranking officials of Afghanistan.

 At a meeting with the Prime Minister of Afghanistan Mohammad Hasan Akhund, Vice-Chairman R. Meredov noted that the Turkmen side expresses its readiness for constructive dialogue and close cooperation with the new state bodies of Afghanistan.  At the same time, it was emphasized that Turkmenistan, as a neighboring state, is deeply interested in the country's political stability and security, the well-being and unity of the Afghan people, and resolving existing contradictions by peaceful, political and diplomatic means.

 During the meeting, the parties paid special attention to stepping up the pace of joint projects in key sectors.  In this regard, the two countries expressed their readiness for further cooperation in promoting the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) power transmission line (PTL) and the railway from Turkmenistan to some provinces of Afghanistan.

 Ministers of Economy, Finance, Public Works, Mines and Oil, Energy and Water Resources, Communications,  trade and industry, information and culture of Afghanistan; and the head of «Da Afghanistan Brishna Sherkat».

 The meeting participants discussed a wide range of issues of political and economic interaction between the two countries.  In particular, they will touch upon the issue of stepping up the implementation of joint projects, ensuring their security, as well as expanding interaction between the official and business circles of the two countries through intensifying bilateral meetings at various levels.

 “We want to launch national projects between the two countries as soon as possible, because all the necessary conditions have been created for their implementation, including security,” the Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan said.

 In negotiations with acting  Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaki, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov discussed the priority issues of the bilateral agenda in the field of political, diplomatic and humanitarian interaction.  The Turkmen side invited the Afghan government delegation to visit Turkmenistan.

 The meeting on security issues, chaired by Rashid Meredov and Mullah Muhammad Yakub, was attended by the ministers of defense, internal affairs and heads of the national security and border services of Afghanistan, as well as the leadership of the relevant ministries of Turkmenistan.

 During the constructive conversations, the sides noted the need to continue efforts to ensure and strengthen security, stability and border interaction.  In this regard, the Afghan side stated that the security of the common fraternal border, as well as all joint promising economic projects will be ensured.

 “We will spare no effort to ensure the security of infrastructure and economic projects between the two countries,” Mulla Yakub said.