DUSHANBE, May 14, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- More than 200 freight cars of those stranded on Uzbek territory arrived in Khatlon province from May 8 to may 13, Usmon Qalandarov, the deputy chairman of Tajik Railways, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, more than 900 other freight cars bound for Tajikistan are still being held up in Uzbekistan.  “These freight cars contain mainly fuels, cement and bitumen,” Qalandarov noted.

We will recall that Uzbek authorities began to hold up Tajikistan-bound freight cars in early February this year.  Tajikistan accused Uzbekistan of deliberately delaying the passage of more than 1,000 freight cars laden with fuel, building materials, and other goods bound for Tajikistan.  The Uzbek side rejected that accusation, saying the delays are "technical."

Only on May 8, following disasters that hit Khalton province, Uzbekistan began to allow freight cars to move into Khatlon.