“Sputnik-Tajikistan” reports that about 100 semi trucks with cargo bound to Tajikistan from Iran have been unable to cross the border with Turkmenistan for over a week.
Ashgabat’s refusal to give entry permits for them led to this situation.
Drivers of semi trucks, which got stuck at the border checkpoint Lyutfabad-Artyk, say that the reasons behind the ban are not explained at the checkpoints.
— Passenger buses purchased by Tajikistan in Turkey have also congregated at the border checkpoint Sarakhs. They were also denied access, — one of the drivers said.
According to another driver from Tajikistan, Turkmen border guard patrols provide no access only to those vehicles which are transporting cargo to Tajikistan. He claims that the vehicles carrying merchandise to Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and other countries can cross the border unhampered.
The interlocutors say that semi trucks from Iran and Turkey en route to Tajikistan got stuck with them. They claim that a similar situation has occurred in other checkpoints on the Turkmen-Iranian border.
It has been reported that the Ambassador of Tajikistan to Turkmenistan was briefed on the situation.
Let us recall that on 8 August Turkmenistan increased customs duties for Iranian truck five times.
At the same time, the Turkmen authorities still claim that they are turning the country into a transportation hub and are working to attract international transportation companies.
On 2 September Turkmenistan’s state television has showed a video footage featuring the largest aircraft in the work the cargo plane AN-225 “Mriya” landing in Mary.
The anchor said that this confirms that the transit and transportation infrastructure is well-developed in the country.