DUSHANBE, February 20, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Issues related to transit of commercial goods to Afghanistan through Tajikistan were the focus of a meeting of Foreign Minster Hamrokhon Zarifi with visiting Director, Strategy, Policy, Programs and Logistics, the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), Rear Admiral Mark D. Harnitchek, that was held in Dushanbe on February 20.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the USTRANSCOM senior official noted that some 50-200 automotive containers loaded with non-military cargo were expected to be sent to Afghanistan through Tajikistan each week.  “Tajikistan is an important transit country for us because it is the shortest overland route to our bases in Afghanistan,” Rear Admiral Harnitchek said.

According to him, goods will be shipped to Tajikistan by rail from Uzbekistan, which also gave its consent on transit of non-military supplies for ISAF/NATO to Afghanistan through its territory.

Washington and Tashkent have reached an agreement allowing US non-military rail cargo to pass through Uzbekistan on its way to neighboring Afghanistan.  Earlier, Russia and Kazakhstan gave consent on transit of NATO commercial goods through their territories.

As it had been reported earlier, Rear Admiral Mark D. Harnitchek, heading the USTRANSCOM delegation, arrived in Dushanbe for a working visit on February 18.  The purpose of the visit is for the delegation to study transportation infrastructure and conduct consultations with relevant ministries and departments of Tajikistan on transit of commercial goods to Afghanistan through Tajikistan.