Friendly relations rooted in history
In the epoch of Revival of the new Era of Powerful state, thanks to the peace-loving foreign policy conducted by the President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, based on friendly and fraternal, benevolent and mutually advantageous relations, the reputation of the permanently neutral Turkmenistan in international relations is increasing day by day. Our Motherland gained wide support in the international arena with its policy of permanently neutrality based on the sacred principles of our ancestors to maintain friendly, peaceful and humanitarian relations with neighboring and distant countries. It fully testified that International initiatives of permanently neutral Turkmenistan, which promotes international peace, security and sustainable development, energy security, transport-logistics, health care and science-education, gained unanimous support of all member states and the world community.
Our Motherland maintains close relations not only within the framework of international intergovernmental organizations, but also with neighboring and distant countries and peoples. These relations are primarily based on the principles of peace, security and sustainable development, mutual respect and trust. One of this fraternal country is Afghanistan.
The Turkmen people have been maintaining peaceful, friendly and in humanitarian relations with the neighboring Afghan people for many centuries. This friendly relations take its roots from ancient times. Even during the time of the great poet Magtymguly Pyragi, it is known that the Turkmen people held diplomatic negotiations with the neighboring Afghan people to strengthen peace and good relations. After gaining its independence, Turkmenistan is expanding its friendly relations with the neighboring Afghan people. This is a new revival of the ancient relations between the two fraternal peoples. As we know, diplomatic relations between the two friendly countries were established on the February 21, 1992.
At current time, active relations between the permanent Neutral Turkmenistan and Afghanistan are being conducted in the fields of energy, transport-communication, science, education and culture. The beginning of the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India international gas pipeline in 2015, the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan electricity pipeline and fiber-optic communication system in 2018, the Kerki-Imamnazar-Akina-Andhoi railway in 2016 and the opening of the Serkhetabat-Turgundy railway proves this. Active relations between the two countries are also carried out in the field of science and education. Currently, a number of young Afghans are studying in higher and secondary vocational schools of the country.
On February 25, 2024, the Afghan delegation led by Amir Khan Muttaki, acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, visited our country. During the visit, the meeting between the Turkmen and Afghan representatives contributed to the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries in the fields of energy and transportation. During the negotiations, the parties analyzed and exchanged views on the implementation of large-scale energy and transport-communication projects with the participation of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan.
This working visit was an important event in the expansion of friendly relations between the two friendly countries, which have taken their origins from the ancient eras of history.
Muhammet HAYDAROV,
the second year student of the Faculty of International relations of the
Institute of International relations of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.