The Khukumat of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) announced the resumption of the activities of the border markets of this region with Afghanistan.
Recall that after the radical Taliban movement came to power in Afghanistan (banned in many countries of the world, including Tajikistan) and the new leadership of this country was not recognized in Dushanbe, the border and border markets were locked.
On September 2, the reopening of the markets was announced on the Facebook pages of the authorities in Afghanistan and Tajikistan. In particular, in the message of the executive body of state power of GBAO, published on its Facebook page, it is said that “border markets in the Tem microdistrict of the city of Khorog, Darvaz, Vanj and Ishkashim regions have resumed their work.”
The message from the hukumat of the city of Khorog emphasizes that such a step was taken on the basis of “instructions from the President of the Republic of Tatarstan Emomali Rahmon.”
According to official data, the head of the GBAO Alisher Mirzonabot, who led the delegation of local authorities, visited the border market in the Tem microdistrict and talked with entrepreneurs. “It was emphasized that the resumption of the activities of the border markets will contribute to the expansion of trade cooperation between the two countries and the creation of new jobs,” the report says.
And this despite the fact that for two years since the Taliban came to power in Kabul, Dushanbe has repeatedly stated that it does not recognize the government of the self-proclaimed Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Tajik President Emomali Rahmon criticized the Taliban for ignoring the rights of Tajiks in Afghanistan and said he would only support the creation of an inclusive government in that country.
Since then, the border between the two countries has been closed, and there have been no official reports of possible social and political cooperation between the two neighbors. At the same time, thousands of Afghan refugees and critics of the Taliban regime fled to Tajikistan.
On Saturday, September 2, the report of the GBAO khukumat notes that the first deputy chairman of the region Sharifkhon Safarzoda and other officials “received representatives of the neighboring state and got acquainted with the conditions created in the market.”
Representatives and entrepreneurs of the neighboring country welcomed this initiative and stressed that “in the future they will make efforts to improve cooperation between the two neighboring countries.”
The message does not specify on the basis of what agreements with the current Afghan authorities the opening of border markets took place and who exactly from the Taliban leadership arrived in Tajikistan as guests.
However, on the Facebook page of the Shugnan district administration of Afghanistan, which also published news about the opening of a joint market without mentioning Tajikistan, it says: “Today, through the efforts of the head of the Shugnan district administration, Mavlawi Rahmonuddin, the Shugnan Bakhir market was opened.” According to this source, representatives of the local police – “commanders Ibrohim Zufkor, Masudullah Rahimi” also took part in this ceremony. Taliban representatives in Shugnan, Afghanistan, said that “the joint market will be open on Saturdays from 8:00 to 14:00.”
The message of the GBAO Hukumat says: “Today, the markets have resumed their activities, which will help improve the level and quality of life of the inhabitants of the two countries.” During the meeting, the need to ensure security and prevent the supply of low-quality products was also discussed.
The border markets between Tajikistan and Afghanistan, whose total length of the border is about 1,400 km, were created even before the Taliban came to power in this country. The goal was to bring cultures together, support local producers and create jobs for residents of border areas.
Source : azathabar
