SOUTHWARD:

In Ashgabat September 9, the presidents of Turkmenistan and Pakistan, Saparmurad Niyazov and Farooq Leghari, confirmed their interest in a joint project to build a gas pipeline from Turkmenistan via Afghanistan to Pakistan. International financing would be sought for the 1,400 kilometer pipeline with an annual throughput capacity of 20 billion cubic meters. Pakistan has also declared its intent to begin importing significant amounts of Turkmen cotton fiber. (16)

And Westward, Bypassing Russia: