Pakistan and Turkmenistan enjoy excellent economic, social, cultural and political relations since 1991 when Pakistan recognised the independence of Turkmenistan. For the last two decades, Pakistan and Turkmenistan have been developing good diplomatic relations.
In October 1994, the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto had visited Turkmenistan and subsequently Nawaz Sharif also visited Turkmenistan in October 1997. The President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov’s current visit to Pakistan would boost these bilateral relations.
“Presidents of Pakistan and Turkmenistan expressed the resolve to expedite the $7.6 billion Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, which was inked last December in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The two sides agreed to start direct air-links between Pakistan and Turkmenistan which would develop a trade corridor in the region.” Pakistan is currently suffering from energy crisis and TAPI gas pipeline project will prove one the remedies to Pakistan’s energy crisis. This Central Asian state also wants to build this pipeline to sale energy to energy hungry countries like Pakistan. TAPI gas pipeline project would surely provide energy security in the region. It is welcoming to note that the government is strengthening its relations with Central Asian states which would help to counter terrorism, enhance regional trade and development.
HAFIZ MUHAMMAD IRFAN
Islamabad