At present, over 300 wagons with cargo destined for the forces of the anti-terrorist coalition in Afghanistan have piled up in the republic owing to the blocking of transportation of cargo by the Uzbek government. This was stated by the first deputy head of the Tajik Railways, Vladimir Sobkalov.

According to the official, these wagons carry mainly fuel and lubricant, including aviation fuel.

Earlier, press reports have said more than once that cargo proceeding to Afghanistan through Uzbekistan has been delayed. For one, last year, Afghan private companies that supply the country with flour and food items complained about the poor carrying capacity of Uzbek railways.

According to Vladimir Sobkalov, the Tajik railways have appealed to the U.S. embassy and the European Union mission in Dushanbe for help but the situation has remained unchanged, and the issue has not been resolved. According to the western news agencies, the transportation of cargo has been delayed in Uzbekistan since February.
 
Meanwhile, the construction of a railway line in northern Afghanistan that links the Afghan city of Khairaton along Uzbek border with the administrative centre of the Balkh province, Mazar-i-Sharif is gaining momentum. The project is financed by the Asian Development Bank. On the eve, the president of the Bank Haruhiko Kuroda who paid a working visit to Afghanistan met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul. The Afghan leader spoke highly of the contribution made by the bank for the development of infrastructure in his country and the region as a whole. The two sides focused on the construction of the Khairaton-Mazar-i-Sharif railway and a runway in the city.