Hot on the heels of Turkmenistan’s self-proclaimed international reputation make-over comes news that Turkmenistan is sending humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.

According to the Journal of Turkish Weekly,

The friendship caravan, put together by the government and people of Turkmenistan, is carrying 1000 tons of wheat flour, 500 tons of diesel oil and 9000 tons of clothing for the people of Afghanistan to offer them some relief against the extraordinarily harsh and long winter.

The Reuters wire notes that the regions of Afghanistan that will receive the aid are “home to a large diaspora of ethnic Turkmen”. However, it would be unfair to assume that this is Turkmenistan’s primary motivation; as the Journal of Turkish Weekly article notes, Turkmenistan has been actively supporting relations with Afghanistan since independence in a wide range of ways, including:

- Supporting Afghan students studying in Turkmenistan; around 100 students have already returned to Afhganistan;

- Supplying subsidised electricity & disgressionarily waiving $4.3 million of bills;

- Supplying petrol at reduced rates;

- Reconstructing rail links to Turgondi and building power distribution stations

- Providing free healthcare to Afghan citizens in border areas

Progress on the project that would arguably bring the greatest benefits to Afghan citizens, the Trans-Afghan Pipeline, has however been virtually non-existent for several years, though a further meeting is planned for this month.

Turkmenistan was previously a transit country for aid to Afghanistan for the World Food Programme, but as need priorities shifted from northern Afghanistan towards the south west of the country in 2003.