Tajikistan ready to allow British transit through its territory
DUSHANBE. Feb 22 (Interfax) - Tajikistan and the United Kingdom are discussing a draft intergovernmental agreement, which will allow British transit through Tajik territory during the coalition pullout from Afghanistan, Tajik Foreign Ministry spokesman Davlatali Nazriyev said on Friday.
Tajikistan is ready to consider transit requests from other NATO member countries, as well.
"The UK has asked the Tajik government for cargo transit across Tajikistan," Nazriyev told a press briefing.
"The UK presented a draft intergovernmental agreement. Relevant Tajik ministries and departments are analyzing the document," he said.
The Tajik Transport Ministry reported on February 19 a meeting of Transport Minister Nizom Hakimov and British Ambassador to Tajikistan Robin Ord-Smith and said transit of British military cargo and servicemen across Tajikistan was possible.
"The Republic of Tajikistan is ready to allow transit of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) cargo; there are no problems or impediments with this regard," Nazriyev said.
"If any other country makes a similar request to Tajik authorities it will be processed in the established procedure," the spokesman added.
The UK intends to pull out 3,800 servicemen or approximately a half of its contingent from Afghanistan this year. The transfer of security functions from the U.S.-led NATO coalition to Afghan law enforcement forces is supposed to end in 2014.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake said on February 20 that the United States would not use Tajik infrastructure in the withdrawal of its servicemen from Afghanistan.
Tajikistan has the longest border with Afghanistan, 1,344 kilometers, amongst the CIS republics.
