DUSHANBE, March 30, 2012, Asia-Plus — Uzbekistan has reportedly begun the dismantling of a railroad leading to Tajikistan’s southern Khatlon province.
Tajik Railways has confirmed this information. “However, we do not have information about the volume of the carried out works,” the source said, refraining from naming the source of the information.
Meanwhile, the Tajik Railways representative says that according to unofficial information, the Uzbek side intends to carry the Amuzang railway station “to the physical border.” “But the Uzbek authorities have not informed us of this intention,” said the source. “Before dismantling the railroad they should have informed us.”
We will recall that the mid-November explosion at a rail bridge severed southern Tajikistan”s rail connection to the outside world. After a few days of silence, state-controlled Uzbek media characterized the event as a “terrorist act.” Subsequently, outside observers began casting doubt on Tashkent’s claim, with some asserting that Uzbekistan may have sabotaged its own railway in a twisted attempt to economically punish Tajikistan.
Since the incident, the Uzbek authorities have refused Dushanbe’s offers of assistance to repair the bridge.
Representatives from Tajik state rail company note that 130 freight cars with goods bound for the southern Tajik province of Khatlon are currently unable to leave Uzbek territory.
This railway is a vital artery for fuel, food and other supplies to the areas of southern Tajikistan, whose remoteness make re-supply by road impractical.
Most analysts cite mounting tensions between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan over latter’s Roghun Dam project as a motive.
