Afghan, Turkmen Officials Emphasize Accelerating TAPI Pipeline Land Acquisition

Officials from Afghanistan and Turkmenistan met in Kabul to discuss speeding up land acquisition for the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project. Murad Amanov, head of the TAPI project, Attaullah Omari, Afghanistan's Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, and Khwaja Avazov, Turkmenistan's ambassador to Kabul, emphasized accelerating land acquisition and pricing stages in line with the framework agreement among the four countries, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock.

Amanov highlighted the need for progress on these steps during the meeting. Separately, ships from the Azerbaijan Shipping Company have begun transporting TAPI pipes from Baku port to Turkmenbashi port, with about 11,700 pipes expected by year-end to prepare for construction.

In related trade developments, Afghanistan's Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation announced the transfer of eight export shipments via Torghundi port and the Lajvard corridor, which runs through Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. The shipments, containing dried fruits, jam, pressure cookers and energy drinks, departed on Sunday, 24 Hoot, and are headed to markets in Saudi Arabia, the United States, Australia and the Netherlands after reaching Turkey. The ministry stated that facilitating transit and supporting exports are key priorities.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank, opened the largest carpet weaving center in Herat province. The facility, inaugurated in the presence of Indrika Ratwatte, deputy special representative of the UN Secretary-General, and local elders, initially provides jobs and skills training for 400 Afghan returnees, more than three-quarters of them women. UNHCR noted that over 2 million Afghans returned from Iran last year, and the center aims to create economic opportunities and empower returnees and host communities.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev ratified a preferential trade agreement with Afghanistan by decree. The pact was signed on June 10, 2025, during the Tashkent International Investment Forum.