Pakistan, Turkmenistan sign MoU to curb terror financing

By Shoaib A Raja

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Turkmenistan on Wednesday inked eight accords on cooperation, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on financial intelligence to curb money laundering and terrorism financing and sharing intelligence on terrorism.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamadov witnessed the signing ceremony at the PM House as the respective sides inked the documents and also signed the joint communiqué.

Earlier, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamadov was given a warm welcome on his arrival at the Prime Minister’s House and PM Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, who had earlier received him at the Nur Khan Airbase, greeted him again at his official residence.

The Turkmen president was accompanied by a high-level delegation including Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet Yagshigeldi Kakayev, Minister for Energy Dovranmammet Rejepov and Finance Minister Muhammetguly Muhammedov. The two-day visit of the Turkmen president is part of regular high-level exchanges between the two brotherly countries. He last visited Pakistan in November 2011.

Seven accords signed

The Programme of Cooperation 2016-17 between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs was signed by Special Assistant to PM on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi and Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in exchange of financial intelligence related to money laundering and terrorism financing was inked by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and his Turkmen counterpart Muhammetguly Muhammedov.

The MoU on cooperation in the field of energy was signed by Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Turkmenistan’s Minister for Oil and Gas Myraigeldi Meredov.

The MoU between National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Pakistan and Magtymguly Turkmen State University (MTSU), Turkmenistan was signed by Rector NUML Maj Gen (retd) Ziauddin Najam and Rector MTSU Gurtnyyaz Hanmyradov.

The MoU between Comsats Institute of Information Technology and Turkmen State Institute of Economics and Management (TSIEM) was signed by Rector Comsats Junaid Zaidi and Rector TSIEM Owezgeldi Ishanguliev.

Later, the PM said that Pakistan was committed to the early completion of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, considering it as a new chapter in economic collaboration and greater regional integration with Central Asia.

 In a one-on-one meeting with the president of Turkmenistan at the PM House, the PM said that Pakistan was ready to provide any assistance to expedite the implementation process of TAPI and help minimise the project cost. He said that Pakistan viewed TAPI not only as a gas pipeline project, but as a precursor to making it a trade and transit corridor as well.

He also welcomed Turkmenistan's offer for export of 1000MW electricity to Pakistan and signing of tripartite MoU during his visit to Turkmenistan last December. He said Pakistan looked towards Turkmenistan for future energy security and offered Turkmenistan to take advantage of Pakistani ports for its exports and imports.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sharif and President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamadov led delegation-level talks of their respective sides. Both sides also discussed prospects of cooperation in diverse fields including defence and security, counter-terrorism, education and science and technology.

Pakistan side included Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khwaja Asif, Commerce Minister Engineer Khurram Dastgir, Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, PM's Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, National Security Adviser Nasser Khan Janjua and Ambassador to Turkmenistan Dr Abdul Malik. The Turkmen side included Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Yagshigeldi Kakayev and Minister of Finance Muhammetguly Muhammedov.

Threat of extremism to be countered

Later, both the leaders said that the threat of extremism and terrorism needed to be countered collectively to ensure peace and stability in the region. President of Turkmenistan and PM Sharif after holding a round of delegation-level talks told the media persons that the two countries shared similar views on important issues. 

President Berdimuhamedov said that both the countries were facing common challenges and "combating common threats is our goal." Both the leaders said that they had good coordination at international forums and would continue to work together for regional and international peace and security.

Nawaz Sharif said that it was his third meeting with the President of Turkmenistan in nine months and said it was reflective of the depth, warmth and cordiality between the two countries. He said the deep seaports provided shortest route to the Arabian Sea to Turkmenistan and other Central Asian States.

--Originally published in The News