Tashkent does not suspend passage of Tajik trains via Uzbek territory

An official source at Tajik Railways says they have not received any notification from Joint-Stock Company (JSC) Oʻzbekiston Temir Yoʻllari (the Uzbekistan Railways) of the suspension of passage of Tajik passenger and freight trains via Uzbek territory.  

Passenger trains run via Uzbek twice a week from Dushanbe to Moscow and once a week from Dushanbe to Khujand (northern province of Sughd) and Kulob (southern province of Khatlon).

Besides, Tajikistan carries fuels, wheat and wheat flour by rails from Russia and Kazakhstan via Uzbek territory.  

Uzbekistan railroads are the only way for Tajikistan to enter international railway communication.

Recall, Uzbekistan’s national air carrier, Uzbek Aiways, said on March 15 that it is suspending or curbing flights to a number of cities in Western Europe, Asia and the Middle East until the end of April beginning on March 16 due to detention of coronavirus cases in Uzbekistan.  

Meanwhile, an aerial communication between Dushanbe and Tashkent has reportedly been suspended until March 27.  It is still unknown whether the suspension of the flights will be extended or not.

Besides, Uzbek authorities on Monday temporarily closed Uzbekistan’s border with neighboring countries due to detention of coronavirus cases in the country.  Uzbekistan is bordered by five landlocked countries: Kazakhstan to the north; Kyrgyzstan to the northeast; Tajikistan to the southeast; Afghanistan to the south; and Turkmenistan to the southwest.