DUSHANBE, June 21 (TNS): Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow has said the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) project is being satisfactorily implemented and announced extending the gas pipeline up to Herat province of Afghanistan.
Faridon Khwazon, media advisor to Afghan Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the Turkmenistan president made these remarks during a meeting with Abdullah in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan.
Abdullah attended an international conference “Water for Sustainable Development” in Tajikistan and he would likely return to Afghanistan today.
Khwazon said Abdullah met with Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow in Dushanbe on Thursday morning.
He said Berdimuhamedow called Afghanistan one of his country’s close neighbors and urged increased relations between the two states.
He quoted the Turkmen leader as calling water “an important resource of life in the world” which should be used effectively and based on needs.
On the other hand, Berdimuhamedow said implementation of the multimillion TAPI project was ongoing satisfactory and Turkmenistan would extend the gas pipeline to Herat province.
He said both the neighbors enjoyed good relations and Turkmenistan had built mosques, schools, hospitals and playgrounds as well as an orphanage for Afghan citizens on the border area.
Afghan CEO Abdullah thanked Turkmenistan and its president for their support to Afghanistan.
He said Turkmenistan’s major programs on regional level and small programs were appreciable and electricity it provided to Afghanistan helped locals a lot.
Abdullah termed the ongoing drought a common problem of the two countries and sought joint cooperation for dealing with it.
Both the sides talked about strengthening bilateral relations and Turkmenistan president invited Abdullah to visit his country.
