Tajikistan to ease transit of NATO goods from Afghanistan
By Aynur Jafarova
Tajikistan will smooth the way for the transit of goods of NATO
member countries from Afghanistan through its territory, according
to remarks made by Tajik President Emomali Rahmon during a meeting
with Commander of the U.S. Transportation Command General William
Fraser III on November 22.
Rahmon said that an agreement signed by the Tajik government and
NATO will comprehensively facilitate this work.
During the meeting the sides discussed a wide range of issues on
cooperation in political, security, military, economic, and social
spheres.
Particular attention was paid to the developments in Afghanistan
and beyond it after the withdrawal of the NATO troops in 2014.
General Fraser, in turn, recalled Tajikistan's important role and
its strategic geographic position in Central Asia and stated that
the U.S. will further support the development of border management
and material and technical supply of border troops, security,
defense, customs structures and other relevant bodies for ensuring
regional security.
NATO and Tajikistan are developing practical cooperation in a
number of areas through the country's Individual Partnership
Program, jointly agreed for a two-year period.
The key areas of cooperation include security and peacekeeping
cooperation, especially counter-terrorism cooperation and border
security, crisis management and civil emergency planning.
Tajikistan plays an important role in supporting Allied operations
in Afghanistan through the hosting of French military aircraft at
Dushanbe Airport.
Tajikistan joined NATO's Partnership for Peace program in 2002.