Taliban-led Herat Governor Meets TAPİ Project Officials to Expedite Progress and Propose Joint Border Trade Expo
Nur Ahmad Islamjar, the Taliban-appointed governor of Herat, met with the TAPİ project manager and the deputy consul of Turkmenistan in Herat to discuss accelerating the project and enhancing economic cooperation between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan.
According to a statement from Herat’s Department of Information and Culture, the meeting was held in the presence of the head of the Foreign Ministry’s representative office in Herat. Both sides emphasized the need to speed up the implementation of the TAPİ project and strengthen economic ties between the two countries. The TAPİ project aims to transport gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India and is considered a key regional energy initiative.
The Herat governor also proposed organizing a joint trade exhibition at the borders of Torghundi in Afghanistan and Serhetabat in Turkmenistan. He stated that this exhibition could provide an opportunity to showcase domestic products, expand trade relations, and reinforce economic cooperation between the two nations.
Begen Abdullahyov, the deputy consul of Turkmenistan, expressed appreciation for the cooperation of Herat’s local authorities in advancing the TAPİ project, noting that such collaboration has played an effective role in speeding up the project’s progress. He also welcomed the proposal for the joint trade exhibition and added that the plan would be shared with relevant Turkmen authorities for review and a decision regarding its implementation.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both parties emphasized the continuation of cooperation, expansion of economic relations, and provision of necessary facilities to better implement joint projects between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. However, some economic experts consistently stress the importance of transparency, professional management, and ensuring the security of major regional projects in Afghanistan—factors that remain serious concerns for investors under the current Taliban administration.
