DUSHANBE, March 30, 2013, Asia-Plus – Construction of the railway link connecting Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan as well as implementation of the Central Asia South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project (CASA 1000) were the focus of a meeting of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon with Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rasoul that took place here on March 29.
According to the Tajik president’s official website, the sides also discussed cooperation between relevant bodies of the two countries for implementation of ambitious regional projects.
They reportedly expressed hope that a trilateral trade and transit pact that would be signed between Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan would pave the way for further expansion of trade and economic cooperation between the nations.
President Rahmon noted that Tajikistan was ready to provide assistance to Afghanistan with training of personnel for its railway and other sectors.
The sides also discussed regional security and a number of other issues being of mutual interest, the source said.
We will recall that Afghanistan and Pakistan signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the Afghan-Pak trade transit agreement (APTTA) in July 2010. The two nations also signed a MoU for construction of rail tracks in Afghanistan to connect with Pakistan Railways. In October 2010, the landmark APTTA agreement was signed by Pakistani Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Anwar ul-Haq Ahady, Afghan Ministry of Commerce. The APTTA allows Afghan trucks to drive inside Pakistan to the Waqah border with India, including to the port cities of Karachi and Gwadar.
In November 2010, the two states formed a joint chamber of commerce. The APTTA agreement has taken effect after several Afghan trucks delivered fruits from Afghanistan to the Waqah border with India in June 2011. With the completion of the APTTA, the United States and other NATO states are planning to revive the ancient Silk Road. This is to help the local economies of Afghanistan and Pakistan by connecting South Asia with Central Asia and the Middle East.
In July 2012, Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to extend APTTA to Tajikistan in what will be the first step for the establishment of a North-South trade corridor. The proposed agreement will provide facilities to Tajikistan to use Pakistan’s Gwadar and Karachi ports for its imports and exports while Pakistan will enjoy trade with Tajikistan under terms similar to the transit arrangement with Afghanistan.
