Speech of the Deputy PM for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, During the Visit to Review the Progress of TAPI Project Implementation

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

To His Excellency Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, National Leader of the brother country of Turkmenistan, and your accompanying delegation; distinguished members of the Cabinet of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan; tribal elders; engineers; media representatives; and all participants:
Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.

First of all, I welcome the National Leader of the friend country of Turkmenistan and his accompanying delegation, and I thank you for coming to Afghanistan to review the implementation progress of the important regional TAPI project and to further strengthen coordination in this regard.

On behalf of the Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, His Excellency Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund, I convey his greetings and best wishes, especially to the National Leader of Turkmenistan and to all of you in general. His health condition did not allow him to join us at this important gathering, and I address you here on his behalf.

It is truly a matter of great pleasure that we are witnessing the practical implementation of the major regional TAPI project. Today, we can clearly see that a 14-kilometer segment of this project has been constructed in a fundamental manner, and alhamdullilah, the work is progressing well.

Distinguished attendees!

The TAPI project is not merely a natural gas pipeline; rather, it is the breaking of a long-standing deadlock that many considered impossible to begin. This project is a real symbol of regional cooperation, economic integration, and shared prosperity. It builds an important bridge of trust, cooperation, and development among neighboring and regional countries. It will play a fundamental role not only in economic growth, but also in strengthening energy security and stability in the region.

This gas pipeline, which connects four major countries of the region, will lead to comprehensive development in the areas along the route. It will play a critical role in establishing and developing infrastructure in these areas, significantly contribute to regional security and stability, create large-scale shared interests, generate thousands of employment opportunities, and reinforce strategic and economic interdependence among the four countries.

The TAPI project will not only have a deep impact on regional politics, but it will also bring positive and influential changes in the region’s geo-politics.

It is natural and realistic that the existence of security paves the way for energy pipelines, the construction of joint infrastructure, and the establishment of platforms for shared interests. The recent history of the region over the past several decades has demonstrated that security enables connectivity and the formation of major shared interests. In a country like Afghanistan, where four decades of conflict and instability prevailed, many such major projects had been obstructed.

Honorable participants!

I would like to clearly state that our vision is not limited to the TAPI project alone. We are working to develop an economic corridor between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. This corridor is not merely the name of a single project; rather, it represents a meaningful movement toward a major strategic objective. It includes the TAP-500 electricity transmission project, railway construction, road networks, logistical centers, and numerous other economic initiatives.

This corridor will connect Turkmenistan, through Afghanistan, to the major markets of South Asia and the Gulf, and conversely connect Central and West Asia. It will transform the region into a unified platform for mutual trade and energy exchange.

Your Excellency, National Leader of Turkmenistan, and respected participants!

Turkmenistan is a friend country to Afghanistan. Our relations are based on shared historical, cultural, and religious values and on the principles of good neighborliness. We are grateful to the government and people of Turkmenistan for consistently maintaining a spirit of mutual respect, trust, and cooperation. Economic, transit, and trade-based relations between our two countries are vital not only for both nations, but for the development of the entire region. The Islamic Emirate is committed to further strengthening these relations and seeks to elevate them to a long-term strategic partnership.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan fully recognizes the regional and international significance of these projects and is committed to their implementation, security, and sustainability. The current policy of the Islamic Emirate is an economy-centered policy grounded in development, cooperation, and mutual interests rather than conflict. Our objective is to transform Afghanistan into a hub of regional connectivity and economic exchange, turning it from a landlocked country into a center of interaction and cooperation.

We renew our commitment to regional projects such as Afghan-Trans and CASA-1000. Just as we are now witnessing tangible progress in TAPI after prolonged delays, we are also observing notable progress in the aforementioned projects. These initiatives are vital for energy exchange, trade, and bringing people closer together, and they represent strong and effective steps toward regional economic independence and stability.

Distinguished attendees!

Today, by the grace of Allah Almighty, Afghanistan enjoys reliable stability, which provides an important opportunity for investment, trade, and regional cooperation. We call on Turkmenistan and all international partners to utilize this opportunity and take meaningful initiatives in investment, particularly in the fields of mining, industry, agriculture, transport, energy, and logistics. The Islamic Emirate is committed to providing a safe, transparent, and facilitative environment for foreign investors.

Afghanistan is a country rich in natural resources, human capital, and productive potential. We believe that through regional connectivity, joint investments, and mutual trust, we can transform these resources into sources of prosperity for the people of the region. The Islamic Emirate will continue to play a constructive and positive role not only in Afghanistan’s peace, stability, and development, but across the entire region.

Once again, I emphasize that Afghanistan’s economic and transit significance benefits neighboring and regional countries. Regional economic projects and connectivity are instruments of development and stability. It has been proven globally that shared economic interests foster political, security, and economic stability and convert conflicts into mutual cooperation. Therefore, the Islamic Emirate is making every effort to facilitate joint economic cooperation with neighboring and regional countries.

I also call on other neighboring countries to move away from confrontation and unprincipled actions, and instead focus on relations based on mutual respect, acknowledging national sovereignty, dignity, and the rights of nations. It is natural that every action results in a reaction, and history has shown that conflicts do not resolve conflicts; rather, they intensify them. We live in an era where the world has become interconnected in economic, technological, and political terms, and the positive or negative actions of any country affect others directly or indirectly.

In conclusion, I sincerely thank the honorable government of Turkmenistan and all partners supporting regional projects. Today, we are not merely constructing physical infrastructure; we are laying the foundation for a bright, stable, and shared future in which our nations live together in peace, stability, and prosperity.

Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.