Afghanistan–Tajikistan relations

Afghanistan –Tajikistan relations

Afghanistan
Tajikistan

Afghanistan–Tajikistan relations refers to the relations between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Republic of Tajikistan, which began in 1992. Afghanistan maintains an embassy in Dushanbe and a consulate in Khorugh. The current ambassador is Sayed Mohammad Khairkhak.[1] Tajikistan maintains an embassy in Kabul and a consulate in Mazari Sharif. The current ambassador is Farhod Hamroboevich Mahkamov.[2]

History

The areas which form the two countries were once connected, especially during the Samanid, Ghaznavid, and Timurid periods. After a friendship treaty in 1750 between Ahmad Shah Durrani of Afghanistan and Mohammad Murad Beg of Bukhara, the Amu Darya (Oxus River) became the official border of Afghanistan. Persian language is widely used in both countries, and there are slightly more Tajiks in Afghanistan than Tajikistan.[3]

Relations between the two countries were officially established on June 15, 1992, and Tajikistan opened its embassy in Kabul at the start of 2002. The consulate in Mazari Sharif was also opened in November of that year.[4]

Current presidents Emomalii Rahmon of Tajikistan and Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan first officially meet on the sidelines of the 2004 Economic Cooperation Organization summit held in Dushanbe. In April 2005 Rahmon made an official visit to Afghanistan.[4]

Border issues

Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Tajik President Emomali Rahmonov, with Carlos M. Gutierrez (U.S. Secretary of Commerce) at the Afghan-Tajik bridge opening in 2007.

Afghanistan and Tajikistan share a roughly 1,300-kilometer (810 mi) border, most of which is in rugged terrain and is poorly protected.[5] Currently the porous border between the two countries is a major concern for both governments, as well as the international community. The border is a major route for drugs being smuggled from Afghanistan to Russia and Europe, and as of mid-2009 it appears that drug and insurgent-related violence around the border is increasing, due in part to the increasingly unstable situation in Pakistan.[5][6]

Transportation links between the two countries, such as the Afghanistan-Tajikistan Bridge, are slowly being rebuilt, often with help and financing from external governments.[4][7]

Energy

Several agreements have been signed between Afghanistan and Tajikistan concerning energy. A $500 million deal was signed in September 2007 to create an energy connection from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan. Both Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are trying to develop their potentially vast hydroelectric industry by selling it to South Asia, and an energy link with Afghanistan is seen as the first step in such expansion.[8]

The two governments have also agreed to construct a 1,000-megawatt hydroelectric plant on the Panj River. Its construction is funded by the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan. "List of Afghan Embassies and Consulates".
  2. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan. "Addresses of consular representations of Tajikistan abroad".
  3. ↑ "Tajiks of Afghanistan". Afghan Network. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan. Таджикско-Афганские отношения (in Russian).
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Tutubalina, Olga (July 20, 2009). "Tajiks say 5 foreign terrorists killed in clash". Associated Press.
  6. ↑ Mahbatsho, Saodat (July 14, 2009). "Tajikistan: Mysterious Death Raises Concerns About Militant Returns". EurasiaNet.
  7. ↑ "Afghanistan-Tajikistan Bridge Links Central, South Asia". Bureau of International Information Programs, US Department of State. August 29, 2007.
  8. ↑ "Electricity supply deal signed between Central, South Asia". Daily Times. November 22, 2007.
  9. ↑ "Tajikistan, Afghanistan to Build Hydro-Power Plant on Pyandzh River". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan/Interfax. August 4, 2007.