DUSHANBE, February 22, Asia-Plus — We advise against all but essential travel to Tajikistan until the energy situation improves, travel advice posted on an official website of Foreign and Commonwealth Office said.
Tajikistan is suffering from particularly low temperatures and an energy crisis. Much of the country (including most hotels) is without electricity. Dushanbe has a severely rationed electricity supply. This situation is likely to persist until late March, the travel advice section said.
It was noted that there is a general threat from terrorism in Tajikistan. “Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers.”
It is to be noted that that the same assessment of a threat from terrorism also concerns Uzbekistan (a general threat from terrorism).
As far as other Central Asia’s states are concerned, in Kyrgyzstan, “there is a threat from terrorism”, in Turkmenistan, “there is a low threat from terrorism”, and in Kazakhstan, “there is an underlying threat from terrorism.”
According to the travel advice, the overall security situation in Tajikistan is currently stable but tourism, health and transport infrastructure in country is poor and travel requires careful planning. “You should avoid off-road areas immediately adjoining the Afghan, Uzbek and Kyrgyz borders, which may be mined. See the Local Travel section of this advice for more details.”
“Few British nationals visit Tajikistan. We are not aware of any British nationals who required consular assistance in Tajikistan in 2007.”
We will recall that Canadian and the US nationals were also advised in early February against unnecessary travel to Tajikistan.
