KHUJAND, March 30, Asia-Plus – There is no any problem with transit of Uzbekistan-bound cargos via the territory of Sughd province, Ubaidullokhon Obidov, deputy head of the shipment department within the branch of Tajik Railways for Sughd province.
“Uzbek freight trains run in accordance with schedule,” said Obidov, “Some 4-5 Uzbek freight trains are passing through the province per day.”
In the meantime, some Tajik politicians and experts consider that Tajikistan must mull a railroad link to bypass Uzbekistan in order to avoid the delays in rail cargo bound for Tajikistan via Uzbekistan.
We will recall that Shodi Shabdolov, leader of the Communist Party of Tajikistan (CPT) and member of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (the lower house of parliament), told Asia-Plus on March 26 that Tajikistan could bypass Uzbekistan through constructing railroad via Afghanistan to Turkmenistan. According to him, Tajikistan must also speed up construction of a rail link via Kyrgyzstan that would connect Tajikistan to China, Russia, Kazakhstan and Iran.
Last week, Tajikistan accused Uzbekistan of deliberately delaying the passage of freight cars bound for Tajikistan.
Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reported on March 29 that Tajik economist Hojimuhammad Umarov said that freight transit via Uzbekistan will remain crucial even if alternative links via Afghanistan or China are built. He pointed out that Tajikistan cannot afford to build such a railroad in the next five or six years. Umarov says Tajikistan should seek a compromise with Uzbekistan.
