The Turkmen authorities have reportedly restricted passage of semi-trucks with cargo bound for Tajikistan through Turkmen territory again. Dozens of Tajik trucks have reportedly been stranded on Turkmenistan’s borders with Iran and Uzbekistan.
“We were going to cross the Turkish-Iranian border in order to pass through Turkmen territory and go further to Tajikistan when we knew that trucks with cargo bound for Tajikistan are not permitted to enter Turkmen territory. We have decided to remain in Turkey until the situation is resolved,” a driver of one of semi-trucks told Asia-Plus by phone.
According to him, dozens of Tajik semi-trucks have been stranded on Turkmenistan’s borders with Iran and Uzbekistan.
Top manager of one of Tajik companies engaged in international freight shipping has confirmed on the basis of anonymity that trucks with cargo bound for Tajikistan have not been permitted to pass through Turkmen territory for already several days. “Turkmen customs officers, however, do not explain the reason,” he said.
Freight shipping companies have applied to the Ministry of Transport with a request to resolve the problem of Tajik semi-trucks stopped on the Iranian-Turkmen and Turkmen-Uzbek borders.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Tajik Foreign Ministry has reportedly applied to the Turkmen counterparts on this issue and they have assured that they will find out the problem and reply as soon as possible.
Recall, dozens of semi-trucks with cargo bound for Tajikistan were stranded on Turkmenistan’s borders with Iran and Uzbekistan for almost a month in September last year. The Ministry of Transport of Tajikistan that time advised drivers of Tajik trucks stranded on Iran-Turkmenistan border to use alternate roads to return home.
Some sources said that taking Tajik trucks across the Caspian Sea to Kazakhstan and from there to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan would cost additional 1,200 U.S dollars for each truck.
