Chitral-Tajikistan road hopes rekindled

This would positively impact a large Ismaili population in Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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Chitral-Tajikistan road hopes rekindled

http://www.chitralnews.com/LN467.htm

CHITRAL, 20 Nov, 06: New hopes have come alive for the realisation of the long proposed Chitral-Tajikistan road through the Wakhan corridor.

Copy of a report on the matter in ‘The Nation’ is produced below:-

Pakistan, Tajikistan to build road link

JAVAID-UR-RAHMAN
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and Tajikistan are interested to build a road connecting them for the first time besides reducing the distance between the two countries by 90 per cent.

“By building the 10-kilometre strip from Pakistan (near Chitral) to Tajikistan around 90 per cent distance between the two countries will be reduced,” said Federal Minister for Communication Shamim Siddiqi while talking to TheNation on Sunday.

He said this road link would also pass through Afghanistan on which negotiations among the relevant countries are in progress. “Afghanistan has been showing its readiness for building the link road but its local tribes might create hindrance,” said the minister while answering a question.

The road link will further connect Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, which will help make Pakistan a transit hub, he said.
Shamim Siddiqi said that three optional routes of different distances were under consideration to establish a proper route between the two countries.

He said that earlier a rail link between the two countries had also been discussed. Meanwhile, official sources said that Pakistan had also signed an agreement with these countries for effective trade links. After the approval of this link, the sources said, both the countries will issue permits to their registered transporters for carrying goods.
Both the countries are yet to decide about the passport procedure, security issues, and other matters,” the sources added.