Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) for Economic Affairs, on Thursday met with Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov in Azerbaijan capital Baku.

During the meeting, the interlocutors discussed current issues in the field of political, diplomatic and trade and economic cooperation, Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Special emphasis was placed on collaboration in the energy, transport, and communications sectors. The two sides discussed the ongoing development of major regional infrastructure projects, including the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) gas pipeline, as well as power transmission lines and fiber-optic communication networks along the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan (TAP) route.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of two-day 17th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit that started on Thursday.

Other nations may soon follow Russia in recognizing the Islamic Emirate-led government of Afghanistan, according to Suhail Shaheen, head of the IEA’s political office in Qatar and Afghanistan’s ambassador to the country.

“We may hear some good news in the coming weeks or months,” Shaheen told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, when asked whether additional countries might recognize the IEA government following Russia’s announcement.

Shaheen’s remarks come after Russia became the first nation to officially recognize the IEA authorities since their return to power in August 2021.

The potential shift in diplomatic recognition could signal a turning point in the IEA’s efforts to gain legitimacy on the global stage.

The Afghan Foreign Ministry announced late Thursday that Dmitry Zhirnov, the Russian Ambassador to Kabul, formally conveyed the decision of the Russian government during a meeting with Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, stating that Moscow officially recognizes the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA).

The ministry quoted Zhirnov as emphasizing the significance of this decision and describing it as a historic step toward strengthening relations between Afghanistan and Russia.

During the meeting, Muttaqi also welcomed Russia’s decision and described it as the beginning of a new phase of positive relations, mutual respect, and constructive engagement between the two countries.

Muttaqi added that this realistic decision by Russia would be remembered as a major development in the history of bilateral relations and would serve as a good example for other countries to take similar steps.

He further stated that this move would lead to the further expansion of bilateral cooperation between the two nations.