Editing Armed Forces of Turkmenistan (section)

=== Military policy of Niyazov ===
Turkmenistan's military is considered to be the most neutral of all former republics of the [[Soviet Union]]. The country's military did not sign the [[Collective Security Treaty Organization|Tashkent Treaty]] in May 1992,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eurasianet.org/russia-frustrated-by-refusal-of-uzbekistan-turkmenistan-to-cooperate-on-security|title=Russia Frustrated by Refusal of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan to Cooperate on Security &#124; Eurasianet|access-date=28 December 2020|archive-date=3 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203131109/https://eurasianet.org/russia-frustrated-by-refusal-of-uzbekistan-turkmenistan-to-cooperate-on-security|url-status=live}}</ref> becoming an observer in the [[Council of Ministers of Defense of the CIS]]. Turkmenistan's first military doctrine was adopted in 1994 enforcing this.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jamestown.org/program/turkmen-leader-plans-to-adopt-new-military-doctrine/|title=Turkmen Leader Plans to Adopt New Military Doctrine|access-date=7 May 2020|archive-date=3 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203131131/https://jamestown.org/program/turkmen-leader-plans-to-adopt-new-military-doctrine/|url-status=live}}</ref> The neutral policy of Turkmenistan was also emphasized in relation to the [[Afghan Civil War (1996–2001)|1996 Afghan War]], maintaining an even relationship with both the [[Taliban]] and the [[Afghan Government|Afghan government]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/turkmenistan-afghanistan-neutrality-policy-punctured/27815538.html|title=Neutral Turkmenistan Chooses A Side In Afghan Conflict|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=23 June 2016 |access-date=28 December 2020|archive-date=3 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203131136/https://www.rferl.org/a/turkmenistan-afghanistan-neutrality-policy-punctured/27815538.html|url-status=live|last1=Pannier |first1=Bruce }}</ref> Following the [[September 11 terrorist attacks]], coalition troops did not appear on Turkmen territory. President Niyazov refused to provide the [[German government]] with a base to store German aircraft, arguing that the country intends to continue to follow the principles of neutrality. 

In 2002, a "[[labor army]]" was created by Niyazov's orders which saw the creation of specialized labor military units. Soldiers in these units began to be sent from military units to enterprises, construction sites and hospitals as cheap labor, being removed from the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Welle (www.dw.com)|first=Deutsche|title=Туркменские солдаты хотят в "дубайские роты" {{!}} DW {{!}} 04.02.2010|url=https://www.dw.com/ru/%D1%82%D1%83%D1%80%D0%BA%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B5-%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8B-%D1%85%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%8F%D1%82-%D0%B2-%D0%B4%D1%83%D0%B1%D0%B0%D0%B9%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B5-%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%8B/a-5215423|access-date=2020-08-01|website=Deutsche Welle|language=ru|archive-date=20 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120145014/https://www.dw.com/ru/%D1%82%D1%83%D1%80%D0%BA%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B5-%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8B-%D1%85%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%8F%D1%82-%D0%B2-%D0%B4%D1%83%D0%B1%D0%B0%D0%B9%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B5-%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%8B/a-5215423|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title="LABOUR ARMY" IN THE ALARMING TIME OF THE NEWS {{!}} Turkmenistan.ru|url=http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/node/3604|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002173819/http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/node/3604|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 October 2021|access-date=2020-12-28|website=turkmenistan.ru}}</ref>