Islamabad (TDI): The Embassy of Turkmenistan in Islamabad hosted a briefing for Pakistani media on Friday, highlighting the country’s achievements in 2026, its expanding international partnerships and opportunities to strengthen cooperation with Pakistan in energy, trade, transport and regional connectivity.
The briefing was held as Turkmenistan marks the 35th anniversary of its independence under the national theme, “Independent, Permanently Neutral Turkmenistan – Homeland of Purposeful Heavenly Horses.”
The embassy highlighted major political, economic and diplomatic developments during the year, including international forums, investment initiatives, infrastructure projects and regional cooperation efforts.
Particular emphasis was placed on Turkmenistan’s relations with Pakistan, with energy cooperation and the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) gas pipeline identified as important areas of shared interest.
Turkmenistan celebrated its 35th Independence anniversary on September 27 with nationwide festivities, including a military parade in Ashgabat attended by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.
The celebrations featured military personnel and equipment, aerial and naval displays, cultural performances, a concert and fireworks.
Earlier, on September 23, the country’s Halk Maslahaty, or People’s Council, held a meeting in Ashgabat under the chairmanship of National Leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
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The meeting reviewed national achievements and development priorities, with participants approving several strategic documents, including the National Strategy for Industrial Development for 2030–2045, the concept on international law and Turkmenistan’s neutrality, and the State Program on Youth Policy through 2031.
The embassy also highlighted the country’s efforts to promote its cultural heritage internationally, including the first World Championship of Equestrian Sports and Beauty among Ahal-Teke Horses, held in the Netherlands from September 4 to 6.
Turkmenistan’s investment agenda featured prominently during the year. The Turkmenistan Investment Forum 2026, held in Ashgabat on October 1–2, attracted more than 800 delegates and guests representing over 200 companies from more than 40 countries, including Pakistan.
The forum provided a platform for discussions on investment opportunities and resulted in the formalization of bilateral documents, commercial contracts and memoranda of cooperation.
October also saw a series of high-level diplomatic meetings and international conferences in the Avaza National Tourist Zone. These included a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), discussions on the sustainable use of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, an international women’s dialogue and a conference on demographic processes and sustainable development.
The Eighth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asian Countries and Azerbaijan was held on October 8, with Azerbaijan participating for the first time as a full-fledged member of the regional format.
A day later, the CIS Council of Heads of State met in Avaza, where participants discussed political, economic and cultural cooperation. They also declared 2029 the Year of CIS Transport Connectivity.
The First Caspian Environmental Summit was held on October 9, providing a platform for regional and international cooperation on protecting the Caspian Sea and its surrounding ecosystem.
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The embassy highlighted energy development as another major priority, particularly efforts to expand natural gas exports, strengthen international partnerships and advance regional infrastructure.
The 31st International Conference and Exhibition “Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan 2026” was held in Ashgabat from October 21 to 23, bringing together more than 1,500 delegates from 75 countries and approximately 450 companies.
Discussions covered the development of the Galkynysh gas field, diversification of export routes, gas processing, petrochemicals and progress on the TAPI pipeline. Five bilateral agreements were signed with international partners from China, Malaysia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
The Construction, Industry and Energy of Turkmenistan 2026 conference and exhibition, held from November 3 to 5, focused on investment and technology opportunities in construction, industrial modernization, energy efficiency, transport infrastructure and digitalization.
The briefing placed particular emphasis on the strategic potential of Turkmenistan–Pakistan relations, especially in energy security and regional connectivity.
A central initiative is the TAPI gas pipeline, designed to transport natural gas from Turkmenistan’s Galkynysh field through Afghanistan and Pakistan to India.
The embassy cited estimated reserves of approximately 27 trillion cubic metres at the Galkynysh field and outlined the potential benefits of the project for Pakistan, including diversified energy supplies, support for industrial activity, improved energy security and stronger economic cooperation across the region.
The embassy also highlighted plans for complementary infrastructure along the regional corridor, including a proposed 1,635-kilometre fibre-optic communication line with a transmission capacity of up to 100 Gbps.
Another initiative is the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan (TAP) electricity transmission project, which envisages supplying power to the TAPI pipeline and associated facilities while creating opportunities to export up to 3,000 megawatts of electricity through Afghanistan to Pakistan. Together, the projects are intended to strengthen energy and digital connectivity between Central and South Asia.
The embassy outlined several developments in Turkmenistan–Afghanistan infrastructure cooperation. In September 2024, construction began on the Serhetabat–Herat section of the TAPI pipeline. Work also commenced on the Turgundi–Sanabar section of the first phase of the Turgundi–Herat railway, while the Nur-ul-Jihad power substation in Afghanistan’s Herat Province was commissioned as part of the TAP project.
On October 20, 2025, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov visited Afghanistan’s Herat Province and inaugurated the next stage of the Serhetabat–Herat gas pipeline. The embassy said specialized machinery and equipment had also been procured to support construction activities.
More recently, on August 10, 2026, Berdimuhamedov held talks with Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Abdul Ghani Baradar, during a working visit to Afghanistan.
The discussions focused on energy and infrastructure cooperation, including TAPI, the Afghanistan–Turkmenistan–Azerbaijan–Georgia–Turkey transport corridor and the Lapis Lazuli corridor.
According to the embassy, Berdimuhamedov proposed establishing a Turkmen–Afghan Commission on Economic Cooperation. The visit also resulted in a memorandum of understanding between Turkmenistan’s state gas concern Türkmengaz and Afghanistan’s State Corporation Afghan Gas.
The embassy said Turkmenistan and Pakistan share an interest in developing reliable energy supplies, expanding transport links and promoting trade and investment.
For Pakistan, the proposed energy and infrastructure projects could provide opportunities to diversify supply sources, support industrial development and strengthen access to regional markets. For Turkmenistan, Pakistan represents an important potential partner in connecting Central Asian resources with South Asian markets.
The successful implementation of these initiatives, however, will depend on sustained cooperation among participating countries, investment, security arrangements and the development of supporting infrastructure.
As Turkmenistan marks 35 years of independence, its emphasis on economic modernization, international engagement and regional connectivity offers further avenues for cooperation with Pakistan.
The Islamabad briefing underscored the two countries’ shared interest in advancing energy, transport and digital infrastructure projects that could strengthen economic links between Central and South Asia.
