Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

The Tajik Parliament's lower chamber ratified an intergovernmental agreement between Tajikistan and the United Kingdom (UK) on providing transit of the UK military equipment and personnel through the country's territory due to ISAF forces withdrawal from Afghanistan, Baku-based Trend news agency reported on October 17.

"This document consists of 12 points," member of Tajik parliament Sayfullo Giyosov said.

The agreement was signed between Tajik Foreign Minister Khamrokhon Zarifi and UK Ambassador to Tajikistan Robin Ord-Smith in Dushanbe in April 2013.

The agreement will allow transporting the British equipment through Tajikistan's territory, while the personnel will pass the country's air space only in emergency situations.

London intends to complete the withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan by late 2014.

The ISAF forces in Afghanistan include 9,000 British militaries performing duties in Helmand province. Up to date, 400 British militaries were killed in Afghanistan.

Currently there are 6,500 containers with British ammunition and 2,600 military vehicles in Afghanistan. After withdrawing international troops from Afghanistan, part of British equipment will be left in this country or destroyed.

Earlier in May 2013, the Kazakh Lower House also ratified the agreement with Great Britain for the transit of military equipment and personnel through the Kazakh territory.

Britain also plans to sell military equipment to Uzbekistan in exchange for safe passage for the thousands of vehicles and containers that are to be brought home from Afghanistan, British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond said earlier.