Turkmenistan seeks to diversify its gas exports to Pakistan, India, and other countries, according to the former president.

Former Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov stated that the ‘main objective’ of his nation is to diversify the exportation of its vast natural gas reserves, which are the fourth largest globally, as per the transcript of an interview released on Sunday.

Turkmenistan, a predominantly arid nation with a population of approximately 7 million, has constrained gas exports due to insufficient pipeline infrastructure. The majority of the gas it exports is directed to China.

Berdymukhamedov held the presidency from 2007 until 2022, when he resigned in favor of his son, Serdar. He continues to exert influence as Turkmenistan’s “National Leader.”

Berdymukhamedov stated in an interview with Saudi channel Al Arabiya, as reported by Turkmen official media, that multinational firms are invited to engage in the TAPI pipeline project, which aims to transport the nation’s gas to energy-demanding markets in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.

Turkmenistan announces the completion of the initial segment of the pipeline to the Afghan city of Herat by the end of 2026. No proposals have been disclosed to extend the pipeline further south.

Berdymukhamedov stated that the initiative, supported by the United States, must navigate enduring tensions among Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, who have had instances of deadly conflict along their shared borders in the previous year.

Berdymukhamedov stated that Turkmenistan endorses the proposed Trans-Caspian Pipeline, intended to transport the nation’s gas to Europe through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, and Turkiye; however, disputes with Azerbaijan on the delimitation of the Caspian bottom must be resolved prior to the commencement of construction.

The former president said during a visit to the US, which has recently sought to engage the Central Asian nations, where Russia and China have historically held dominance.