Pakistan-Turkmenistan Relations: Evaluating the Progress on TAPI

Abstract

Turkmenistan and Pakistan enjoy mutually respectful and cordial relations underpinned by history, culture and religion. Both countries value people-to-people ties and underscore the need to further augment bilateral cooperation in a variety of fields. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a component of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), provides an opportunity to enhance bilateral cooperation and shift the focus of relationship to addressing socio-economic challenges, building economic linkages and enhancing bilateral trade. Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline is one of the most effective development projects since the countries of the region are energy starved. The collective address to the common handicap will also play a vital role in the regional economic upswing. Most importantly, new avenues of cooperation can promote a common understanding of evolving regional and international issues of interest to both countries.