DUSHANBE, July 19, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- The Uzbek authorities have halted freight cars carrying 250,000 textbooks for primary schools in Tajikistan at the Termez railway station, Usmon Qalandarov, deputy director of Tajik Railways told journalists in Dushanbe on July 18.

“The textbooks that have been printed in one of publishing houses in China have remained stuck at the Termez railway station for already two months,” Qalandarov said.

According to him, Uzbek customs officers say that wrong weight was mentioned in the customs declaration.

Tajik state railway company official noted that Tajik company, Sobiriyon, was the cargo owner and its representatives were currently in Termez to find out the situation.

“There are no political motives behind Uzbekistan’s halting of the freight cars carrying text books to Tajikistan and after correction of technical mistakes the issue will be solved,” Qalandarov said.