Musharraf in Turkmen pipeline talks

Developments in Afghanistan have been discussed at talks in Turkmenistan between President Niyazov and the visiting Pakistani military leader, General Pervez Musharraf.

Central Asian countries have previously blamed the Afghans for an upsurge of Islamic militancy in the region, but General Musharraf praised Mr Niyazov for what he called his even-handed policies towards Kabul.

The two men also discussed an internationally-financed scheme to pipe Turkmen gas to Pakistan -- a project which has been suspended because of the continuing civil war in Afghanistan. General Musharraf's visit is his first to a central Asian country since he seized power last October.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service