Border bridge between Afghanistan and Tajikistan opened
|
| Posted
:
Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:21:10 GMT |
| By
:
DPA |
| Category
:
World |
| News Alerts by
Email ( click
here ) |
|
|
|
|
|
Nizhnii Pyanj, Tajikistan - The presidents of Afghanistan and Tajikistan on Sunday opened a border bridge between their countries near the German military base at Kunduz. The bridge over the river Pyanj, which was financed by the United States, would strengthen trade in the region, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said at the opening in the border town of Nizhnii Pyanj. US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez hailed the new border crossing as "another step in the direction of peace and stability in Afghanistan." The US financed the construction of the 672-metre long bridge with 37 million dollars. In the two years it took to build, German soldiers, among others, guarded the site. Tajik President Emomali Rachmonov dismissed fears that the new bridge might facilitate the smuggle of drugs and weapons in the region. Couriers mostly carry Afghan drugs from Central Asia to Europe. In total up to 1,000 trucks dispatched daily. Trade between Tajikistan and Afghanistan rose by 40 per cent in the first half of 2007. Both countries have cultural and other close ties. Around 25 per cent of Afghans are ethnic Tajiks.
Copyright DPA
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related News
Congolese rebel leaders plead not guilty as war crimes trial begins
The Hague - Two former rebel leaders from the Democratic Republic of Congo pleaded not guilty on Tuesday at the opening of their trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. Germaine Katanga, 31, and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui, 39, both o...
Men questioned over gingerbread house vandalism
Oslo - Two men have been questioned on suspicion of vandalizing hundreds of gingerbread houses over the weekend in the Norwegian west coast city of Bergen, news reports said Tuesday. Police said the two men, aged 21 and 26, were picked up late Monday...
Brunei wants to retain its forest cover despite urbanization
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei - The Brunei government wants to retain its position as one of the world's top five countries in terms of forest cover, despite a pressing need for development, local media reported Tuesday. Tricia Parish, from the Nocturn...
Scraps for SADC? SA's neighbours vie for slim pickings - Feature
Harare/Maputo - Some time over the next six months Miriam Vambe hopes to be boarding a plane for the first time, direction South Africa. Most Zimbabweans undertake the long journey across the border to South Africa by bus, bumping and grinding over r...
Voters in Honduras told to hand in guns before elections
Tegucigalpa, Honduras - Honduran authorities began disarming voters in a bid to avoid violent confrontations at Sunday's presidential and parliamentary elections. The order to hand in weapons also applies to gun owners with licences, authorities said...
Roasted chestnuts and heavenly choirs - Vienna's Christmas markets
Vienna - From mid-November onwards those in search of yuletide cheer flock to the Austrian capital Vienna for some of the most romantic and traditional Christmas markets the German-speaking world has to offer. At times like these the aroma of roasted...
Czech government regrets forced Roma sterilization
Prague - Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer expressed regret over the forced sterilization of Roma women but failed to apologize to the victims or offer them financial compensation, officials said Monday. During the Communist era, authorities in the ...
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Bridges across the river Piyandj
By:
Hakim Feerasta ,
Sun, 26 Aug 2007 15:29:35 GMT
|
|
Every effort must be made, by all, to encourage and facilitate trade and travel among the peoples of Tajikistan and Afghanistan, and within the region. Trade and travel will increase economic activity, goodwill and trust among the peoples that were, first, seperated due to political regimes and, later on, suffered many years of civil war.
In this regard the bridge at Sherkhan Bunder, financed by the US and its allies, is the fifth or may be the sixth land connection between the two countries, the others having been constructed by the Tajiks with funding from the Aga Khan Development Network.
|
|
|
|
|
