The historical interaction between the Turkmen and Kazakh peoples developed over many centuries and encompassed various territories of Central Asia. Shared traditions were evident, in particular, in livestock breeding and handicraft production in the Afghan region of Kunduz and Tajikistan's Khatlon Region. Notably, the name of the district located here, Dusti, translates as «Friendship». This is reported by ArzuwNews.

An important testament to the historical ties between the two peoples was the migration process following Kazakhstan's independence in 1991. At that time, around 630 ethnic Kazakhs returned from Iran to their historical homeland through the Incheburun border crossing in Turkmenistan. Subsequently, approximately another 6,000 people joined them.

Shared historical roots and cultural traditions have also been reflected in academic research. For example, Doctor of Historical Sciences A. Begjanov, in his monograph «The Turkmens of Mangyshlak (18th–19th Centuries)», published in 1993, examines the historical interaction between the peoples of the Caspian region and the good-neighbourly relations that developed between them.

Ethnographer Sh. Annaklychev, in his work «The Everyday Life of Oil Workers in Nebit-Dag and Kum-Dag», also provides examples of close interethnic contacts, including family ties. In particular, the author mentions the name Kazakbay, which was given in memory of a Kazakh woman healer.

Historically, the Kazakh population lived along the Trans-Caspian Railway. Compact settlements were established in the territory of what is now Balkan Region. Since 1932, a Kazakh-language newspaper, «Jumyschy» («Worker»), was published here three times a week. During the Soviet period, the publication served as the official press organ of the

Krasnovodsk District Committee of the Communist Party of Turkmenistan.

Archived issues of the newspaper from 1968–1977 are currently kept at the State Library of the State Cultural Centre of Turkmenistan. The tradition of covering the public and spiritual life of Balkan velayat is continued by the regional newspaper «Balkan».

Today, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan are developing bilateral cooperation not only at the interstate level but also within international organisations. The UN, the CIS and regional cooperation mechanisms among Central Asian countries serve as important platforms for collaboration.