Evolving Partnership between Turkmenistan and Pakistan
As was clear from the outcome of the meeting of the joint Turkmenistan-Pakistan commission for cooperation in Ashgabat on 18 August 2017, the nature of partnership between the two countries is expanding in scope. TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline project) is the most active element of partnership but other areas are also emerging fast. The governments of the member countries and the media have noted a number of times that TAPI is not just a gas pipeline – it is the backbone of a multi-purpose corridor that has started taking shape already. Turkmenistan and Pakistan have agreed in principle that there should be road and rail links, the fiber optics connection, and the electricity transmission lines. Collectively, these are the vital elements of a transport and communications corridor. Also, Pakistan has decided to join the Lapis Lazuli Corridor (Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey) and the Central Asia-Middle East Corridor (Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Oman) for wider inter- and intra-regional connectivity. The expected road and rail links between Turkmenistan and Pakistan would automatically merge with OBOR (One Belt, One Road) initiative of China, a global network connecting some 114 countries through land and sea routes. Inside the territory of Pakistan, this would also augment the already-massive infrastructure that is emerging under the CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) plans. These connectivity and corridor initiatives are taking shape at a time when Turkmenistan is focused on developing its export capacity in the non-hydrocarbon sectors. The range of the present and potential exports of Turkmenistan includes textiles, light machinery, wheat and wheat products, fruit and vegetable products, silk, and a number of other items related to the consumer and retail sectors. While the land corridors are the best options for transporting Turkmen products to the European, Russian, and Chinese markets, the sea route is still the primary method for reaching the North American, South American and African markets. This is where the expected Turkmenistan-Pakistan corridor will play the crucial role.
