DUSHANBE, April 15, 2010, Asia-Plus — Tajik Railways has denied information that Tajikistan has allegedly refused to accept 555 freight cars that were allowed by Uzbekistan to move into Tajikistan as absolutely unfounded.
Ms. Gulsara Mahmoudova, the chairperson of the Tajik Railways shipment department told Asia-Plus today that all freight cars allowed by Uzbek officials to move into Tajikistan have been accepted without any problems.
Centrasia.ru reported on April 14 that Uzbekistan’s railroad administration, Uzbekiston Temir Yullari, claims that Uzbekistan does not hold up Tajikistan-bound freight cars on its territory bound. Moreover, they claim that the Tajik side allegedly refuses to accept its cargos for some obscure reason.
Uzbek railroad managers noted that to avoid accumulation of trains on Uzbek territory and damage to Uzbekiston Temir Yullari they recently sent several letters to the head of Tajik Railways, Mr. Amonullo Hukumatullo, Centrasiaru said.
The letters allegedly say that mudflows seriously damaged in some parts the railroad Ghlaab-Amuzang. Besides, in order to provide safety of goods and prevent violation of terms of delivery of cargos the Uzbek side asks its Tajik colleagues to urgently accept 555 freight cars containing food products, fuel, and building materials bound for the Qurghon Teppa railroad station.
In the meantime, Ms. Mahmoudova says that more than 2,000 freight cars bound for Tajikistan have been stranded on Uzbek territory to this day.
We will recall that Uzbekistan eased freight holdup in late March. Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reported on March 27 that some of Tajikistan-bound freight cars held up for several weeks on Uzbek territory have now arrived in Tajikistan. Tajik railway officials said around 150 of the railcars were now in the country, but the Foreign Ministry said hundreds more were still being held up on Uzbek territory, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reported.
The hold-up has caused a dispute between the neighboring countries, with Tajikistan accusing Uzbekistan of intentionally blocking the freight transiting through its territory.
Uzbekistan has blamed technical problems, along with bad weather and an increase in freight traffic. On this last point, 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.”
Chill hit Tajik-Uzbek relations in recent months over Tajikistan”s plans to complete the construction of its key Roghun power plant despite Tashkent”s objections. Uzbekistan says the Roghun plant will leave it facing water shortages.
