On 25 August 2025, political consultations were held in Ashgabat between the foreign ministries of Turkmenistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The Turkmen delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Gurbanov, while the Pakistani side was headed by Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Afghanistan and West Asia, Ambassador Syed Ali Asad Gillani.
The main agenda of the consultations focused on discussing the current state and prospects for developing bilateral relations in the political-diplomatic, trade-economic, and cultural-humanitarian spheres. Both sides emphasized that regular high-level dialogue is a key factor in strengthening interstate ties.
Special attention was given to the importance of trade and economic cooperation, which holds a central place in Turkmen-Pakistani relations. The sides highlighted the significance of the Joint Turkmen-Pakistani Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation and expressed interest in holding its next meeting in the near future. To expand economic collaboration, the parties agreed to facilitate direct contacts between representatives of the private sectors of both countries.
Considerable attention was devoted to the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) transnational gas pipeline project, seen as a vital step toward enhancing regional energy and transport connectivity. The sides also discussed ways to improve the legal framework for cooperation and advance joint projects in the energy and transport sectors.
The importance of developing inter-parliamentary contacts and cooperation within international and regional organizations was underscored.
In the cultural-humanitarian sphere, the sides reviewed plans for joint events in 2025 aimed at strengthening friendly ties between the peoples of the two nations.
At the conclusion of the consultations, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continuing active dialogue to further deepen the partnership, contributing to the prosperity of Turkmenistan, Pakistan, and the broader region.
On the same day, a separate meeting took place between Ambassador Gillani and Turkmenistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rashid Meredov. The diplomats noted the importance of active dialogue between the foreign ministries of the two countries and agreed to continue efforts to promote transport and energy connectivity between Turkmenistan, Pakistan, and other regional countries. ///nCa, 25 August 2025