DUSHANBE, April 17, 2009, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan does not see any obstacles to the signing of an agreement with the United States on the transit of NATO nonmilitary cargo through its territory to Afghanistan, the First Deputy Foreign Minister, Abdullo Yuldoshev, announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on April 17.
“We have already stated our readiness on this subject,” the deputy minister said, noting that the US and other interested sides are currently studying the issue.
We will recall that issues related to transit of commercial goods to Afghanistan through Tajikistan were the focus of a meeting of Foreign Minster Hamrokhon Zarifi with visiting Director, Strategy, Policy, Programs and Logistics, the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), Rear Admiral Mark D. Harnitchek, that was held in Dushanbe on February 20, 2009.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the USTRANSCOM senior official noted on February 20 that some 50-200 automotive containers loaded with nonmilitary cargo are expected to be sent to Afghanistan through Tajikistan each week. “Tajikistan is an important transit country for us because it is the shortest overland route to our bases in Afghanistan,” Rear Admiral Harnitchek said. According to him, goods will be shipped to Tajikistan by rail from Uzbekistan, which also gave its consent on transit of nonmilitary supplies for ISAF/NATO to Afghanistan through its territory.
