Afghanistan–Turkmenistan Partnerships: Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Youth Leadership in Energy and Transport

Speech at International Oil and Gas University, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

Keypoints: 

• Sustainable Afghanistan–Turkmenistan Friendship: Building long-term, stable bilateral relations.
• Regional Connectivity: Transforming Turkmenistan into a hub linking Central and South Asia.
• Youth Leadership: Empowering young generations to manage regional projects and resources.
• Natural Resource Management: Using Turkmenistan’s energy (gas and oil) for regional development.
• Energy Corridors: Projects like TAP and 500kV transmission lines to support Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.
• Transport and Communication Networks: Developing railways, fiber optics, and logistics infrastructure.
• Education and Capacity Building: Strengthening technical knowledge and skills of students and professionals.
• Sustainable Regional Development: Ensuring long-term benefits, cooperation, and prosperity across the region.

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

Honorable Rector of the University, Honorable Academic Dean, esteemed professors, and dear students! Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of Allah.

The enduring friendship between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan is one of the most vital and permanent pillars of Afghanistan’s national policy, and every Afghan takes pride in this stable friendship. The people and government of Afghanistan consider every success of Turkmenistan as their own. In this regard, I congratulate His Excellency the President and the people of Turkmenistan on the highly successful hosting of the International Transport Conference.

Over the past two years, Turkmenistan has assumed the role of a global leader in transport initiatives. Since the Ashgabat Declaration two years ago, it has moved with a speed that truly earns the admiration of all people.

Two years ago, the concept of "Regional Corridors" was merely an idea; today, Turkmenistan has succeeded in becoming a vehicle for regional and international connectivity for every one of its neighbors. Such achievements, brothers and sisters, are very rare. For this, you should all congratulate and thank the honorable President of Turkmenistan.

A Vision for Long-term Stability

My goal is to establish deep and lasting relations with Turkmenistan so that, regardless of who leads Afghanistan after me, these ties remain unchanged. This is one of our permanent principles, and we are certain—God willing—that the momentum we have built in these few years will be so great that no one will be able to reverse it.

I am especially honored today to be among the young generation of Turkmenistan. You have a President who comes from a family of teachers and takes pride in the fact that his father and grandfather lived as educators; consequently, he has a special devotion to the future of the youth. You are a generation that, in a very short time, is being transformed from one of the most isolated countries into one of the most connected. In the faces of each of you Turkmen girls and boys, I see the future leaders of the region. The foundation laid for you is one of continuous and sustainable progress. Therefore, you have both a great opportunity and a great responsibility.

Three Pillars of the Turkmen Foundation

The opportunity lies in expanding, deepening, and universalizing the foundation laid by His Excellency the President. What is this foundation?

1. Permanent Positive Neutrality: Turkmenistan has proven that through positive neutrality, it can be the center of gravity for the positive interests of the entire region and the world.

2. A Hub of Connectivity: Transforming Turkmenistan into a connection point for the entire region and the world. This is a massive transformation; consider that only 25 years ago, Turkmenistan was in isolation, not a point of connection! Today, it is a regional and global roundabout.

3. Purposeful Resource Management: The positive and targeted use of Turkmenistan’s natural resources. Turkmen gas was once not at the service of its people; today, the oil and gas of Turkmenistan secure your future and the future of generations to come.

These are immense achievements for which I congratulate all of you, and specifically this university.

The Burden of Responsibility and Regional Brotherhood

However, the responsibility is also immense. You are the generation that will manage these natural resources for the benefit of Turkmenistan and the positive interests of the world, which requires deep understanding.

At the same time, I want to express my gratitude to the young Afghans studying here alongside you, and to you for being such excellent hosts. Every Afghan student present in this university today is an ambassador for Afghanistan in Turkmenistan, and in the future, an ambassador for the good relations between our two nations. I thank the Rector and the professors for their special attention to our students, and especially the Turkmen youth who have embraced them as brothers and sisters within a framework of trust and friendship.

TAPI: From a Project to a Corridor

It is my hope that this connection grows stronger and deeper every day, because the bonds formed between humans change everything. A prime example is the excellent relationship between the President of Turkmenistan and myself. Why have we been able to move forward with such speed and total trust? Because it is built upon our deep mutual understanding of national interests and shared necessities.

The Rector mentioned the TAPI project. What is TAPI? It is not just a project; it is a grand vision that connects the futures of Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan. Fundamentally, the day TAPI is completed, Turkmenistan will be a central factor in every regional calculation.

Secondly, through our discussions, we have transformed TAPI into a corridor. What does "corridor" mean? Alongside TAPI, we will implement a 500-KV power transmission project from Turkmenistan to Pakistan. This will allow up to 2,000 megawatts of electricity to flow from Turkmenistan to Pakistan, meaning roughly 20% of the current needs of the Pakistani people will be met via Turkmenistan. Think about it: every time a family in Pakistan flips a light switch, the source of that light will be Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan is the source of light for this region—be proud of it! Every time an Afghan, a Pakistani, or an Indian uses gas, the source will be Turkmenistan. This creates lasting relationships; Turkmenistan will be the source of welfare for people in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. The management of this massive project will be your responsibility.

Digital and Physical Infrastructure

Alongside this will be a fiber-optic network connecting South Asia by land to Europe and the rest of the world, and eventually—God willing—to China. What does this mean? It means every internet transmission will be faster, allowing for hundreds of billions of dollars in trade to happen more quickly, medical diagnoses to be swifter, and global communication to be more efficient. Importantly, undersea cables are not as effective as land-based cables.

Another important point regarding this corridor—which we are starting now and remains a subject of ongoing discussion—is that after Atamyrat is connected to Aqina tomorrow, our next project will be connecting Herat with Mary. Subsequently, God willing, a railway will run along the TAPI route to link South Asia with Central Asia. You see how a project that began as a single initiative is evolving into a series of permanent connections.

Leadership, Management, and Academic Honor

The issue belonging to your generation and your esteemed professors is the link between leadership and management. His Excellency the President of Turkmenistan created the broad vision: that Turkmenistan should always be the axis of regional cooperation. The management of this vision now rests on the shoulders of you, the young generation.

Every cubic meter of Turkmen gas and every barrel of Turkmen oil must provide for the short, medium, and long-term interests of the people of Turkmenistan, and this depends on your vast knowledge. I am certain, seeing these bright faces and esteemed professors, that you are perhaps among the luckiest generations of Turkmen in history.

Finally, I thank you again for this great honor. As someone who dedicated about seventeen years of my life to teaching, there is no honor greater for me than receiving an Honorary Doctorate from this important university and international standard institution. On behalf of the people and government of Afghanistan, and as a personal and national honor, I thank the university officials, the Academy, and His Excellency the President. I especially thank the young generation—the Turkmen girls and boys—for the warm welcome they gave me today.