AFGHANISTAN-TAJIKISTAN BRIDGE IMPROVES TRADE AND RELATIONS

UNCLAS KABUL 000757 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, S/CRS, EUR/RPM NSC FOR WOOD OSD FOR SHIVERS CENTCOM FOR CG CJTF-82, POLAD SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD ECON EAID AF TI SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN-TAJIKISTAN BRIDGE IMPROVES TRADE AND RELATIONS BETWEEN TWO NEIGHBORS REF: 07 Kabul 4142 ¶1. (U) This report has been co-drafted with U.S. Embassy Dushanbe. ¶2. (SBU) Summary: Afghan and Tajikistani officials have agreed on several steps to improve operations at the Afghanistan-Tajikistan Bridge. Afghan vehicle traffic to Tajikistan has increased seven-fold and border tax revenue ten-fold since the bridge opened in October 2007. Participants agreed to a 50-percent increase in operating hours and addressed pedestrian use of the bridge. The Tajikistanis discussed plans for a consular facility in Kunduz and raised the possibility of reducing taxes levied on trucks crossing the border. The U.S.-built border facilities will be completed and ready for occupancy (with the exception of the truck scanning facility) by the end of March 2008. Both parties recognized the need to revise the bilateral agreement regulating the border-crossing point. ¶3. (U) The U.S. Government hosted a meeting on March 13 at the Afghanistan-Tajikistan Bridge to facilitate discussions between Afghan and Tajikistani officials on bridge operations. Representatives from the Afghan and Tajikistani ministries of foreign affairs, commerce, and transportation, border guards, and customs services attended the meeting, along with representatives from PRT Kunduz and OSCE Dushanbe. ¶4. (SBU) The bridge opened for limited traffic (four hours per day) in October 2007 and regular traffic (eight hours per day) in December 2007 (reftel). Prior to the construction of the bridge, approximately 30 trucks daily crossed the river on a ferry, providing USD 40,000 monthly in tax revenue for the Afghan customs office. Almost 200 trucks daily now use the bridge, which the customs office estimates will provide more than USD 400,000 in tax revenue for March 2008. ¶5. (SBU) The Afghans proposed a 50-percent increase in the bridge's operating hours to accommodate increased traffic. The Tajikistanis agreed to extended hours and will consider future 365-day operations, but they expressed concerns about staffing and overtime. While the bridge and border-crossing facilities were built to accommodate pedestrians, the Tajikistanis remain resistant to allowing pedestrian traffic, and pedestrians currently must use a passenger ferry to cross the river. Both sides agreed to consider a pedestrian shuttle service on the bridge. ¶6. (SBU) The Tajikistani Deputy Head of Consular Affairs, Yatimsho Musofirov, outlined Tajikistani proposals to open a consular facility in Kunduz Province, either at the border in Sher Khan Bandar or in Kunduz City. The Tajikistani MFA intends to reduce visa-processing time for Afghan truck drivers to two weeks, and extend the visa validity period t six months. The Afghan MFA representative wecomed the proposals and recommended the Kunduz City option for better accessibility and transportation links. ¶7. (SBU) Both parties referred to a January 2008 Afghan/Tajikistani transportation agreement to facilitate cross-border vehicle travel. The agreement includes provisions for temporary mutual recognition of driver's licenses and facilitated issuance of required registration papers for vehicle use in the other country. ¶8. (SBU) The Tajikistanis initiated an unexpected discussion about the reciprocal border taxes that are charged for trucks transporting goods. According to the bilateral protocol regulating the border crossing point, trucks are charged anywhere from USD 50-200 on entry depending on vehicle origin and weight. Both parties were interested in reducing or eliminating these taxes to improve trade and will refer the matter to their respective ministries. ¶9. (SBU) Construction of the border-crossing facilities wll be complete by the end of March 2008, withthe exception of the two truck-scanning facilities that should be finished by May 2008. The Afghan Minister of Finance plans to inaugurate the new Afghan facilities at the beginning of April 2008. The Tajikistani side, working on a slightly different timeline, may have a formal inauguration, but at a later, yet unspecified date. WOOD