Gozde Bayar
19 August 2021•Update: 19 August 2021
ANKARA
Turkmenistan continues to attentively observe the development of the situation and events in Afghanistan, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
“The Turkmen side especially emphasizes that based on the principles of friendship and good neighborliness, as well as being guided by the historical, cultural and civilizational commonality of the peoples of two countries, Turkmenistan has always been and remains firmly interested in the domestic stability and security of Afghanistan, the wellbeing of the fraternal Afghan people,” a ministry statement said.
Underlining that Ashgabat stands for the speedy normalization of the situation in Afghanistan, the statement expressed hope that new state institutions in the country will be established soon within the legal framework and with wide participation of all ethnic groups residing in Afghanistan.
It added that Turkmenistan will continue its work aimed at rendering comprehensive assistance to the Afghan people in the process of establishing peace, civil concord, and stability in the county, as well as the economic, social, and humanitarian development of Afghanistan.
“Turkmenistan is a strong adherent of peaceful resolution of all the issues … through political and diplomatic,” the ministry stressed.
The Turkmenistan Embassy in Kabul, as well as the consulates in the cities of Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif, are continuing to function in the regular mode, it said.
Noting that the external perimeter of the premises of the embassy and consulates is being guarded by the representatives of the Taliban movement, the statement said the Turkmen diplomats fulfill their duties in full format in accordance with the regular working schedule of the missions of Turkmenistan abroad.
It also stressed that a reduction of the staff members or partial evacuation of the employees of the diplomatic mission and the consular entities did not take place.
Regular contacts
The Turkmen Foreign Ministry informed that the staff members of the diplomatic service and other state agencies of the country carry out regular contacts with the representatives of the Taliban movement on the issues of protection of state borders, provision of customs, sanitary, phytosanitary, and other types of supervision and control implemented during the transportation of freights through the borders, according to the statement.
It noted that the check-points on the Turkmen-Afghan border “Ymamnazar-Akina” and “Serhetabad-Torghundi” function in the regular mode and provide the passing of the necessary number of automobile trailers and railway wagons in accordance with the order agreed by both sides.
Regarding Wednesday’s meeting between the Consul General of Turkmenistan in Herat and the head of the representation of the Taliban movement in Herat province, the ministry said they discussed organizational and other matters, related to the activities of the Consulate General of Turkmenistan in the western zone of Afghanistan.
“At the meeting held in a friendly atmosphere, it was underlined that the historical and cultural community of the peoples of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan serves as a solid base for the development of good neighborly relations now and in the long term,” it added.
The Taliban have rapidly taken over Afghanistan in a lightning offensive that blindsided Western powers, as government forces melted away.
The capital Kabul fell to the Taliban on Sunday after the Afghan government collapsed, with President Ashraf Ghani and other key officials fleeing the country.
There were scenes of panic and chaos at Kabul airport on Monday as desperate residents tried to flee the war-torn country. Deaths were reported as some clung to planes flying out of the capital.
