DUSHANBE/QURGHON TEPPA, April 7, 2001, Asia-Plus — Uzbekistan is continuing to hold up cargos bound for Tajikistan, Tajik railway officials say.
Usmon Bobokalonov, the deputy head of Tajik Railways, told Asia-Plus Wednesday afternoon that the number of Tajikistan-bound freight cars stranded on Uzbek territory is now more than 2,000.
“700 cars loaded with diesel fuel, more than 50 car loaded with aviation kerosene, more than 100 cars carrying what and flour as well as other car containing essential goods bound for Dushanbe are still being held up in Uzbekistan without any reasons,” Bobokalonov said.
He added that Uzbekistan was currently allowing some 40-50 cars carrying alumina and some nonessentials to move into Dushanbe per day.
“In the meantime, the passage of freight trans bound for Khatlon province through Uzbek territory has been suspended since March16 and some,1000 Khatlon-bound freight cars are being held up in Uzbekistan,” Bobokalonov stressed.
Deputy head of the shipment department of Tajik Railways’ branch for Khatlon, Saidjon Yodgori, says 181 cars carrying diesel fuel, 210 cars carrying gasoline, 60 cars loaded with whet flour, 15 cars loaded with grains, as well as seven cars containing equipment and 42 cars containing cement and other cargos necessary for construction of the Sangtuda-2 hydropower plant have been stranded on Uzbek territory since March 16.
According to him, the blockade has inflicted serious damage on both the local entrepreneurs and Tajik Railway’s branch in Khatlon.
Yodgori noted that the delays in rail cargo bound for Khalton has led to some 10-percent increase in gasoline prices in the province in recent days. “Fuel shortages has affected the seed-planting season in the province,” he said.
The blockade has caused a dispute between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Tajikistan has accused Uzbekistan of intentionally blocking the freight transiting through its territory, while Uzbekistan has blamed technical problems, along with bad weather and an increase in freight traffic. The Uzbek Embassy in Dushanbe said on March 26 that Uzbekistan was fulfilling “its obligations under international agreements on ensuring the passage of nonmilitary and humanitarian goods to Afghanistan.”
