Tajik–Afghan Friendship Bridge

Bridge in Darvaz, Tajikistan

38°27′N 70°50′E / 38.45°N 70.83°E / 38.45; 70.83CarriesCommercial and passenger vehicles up to 25 metric tonnesCrossesPanj RiverLocaleDarvaz
TajikistanCharacteristicsDesignSuspension bridgeTotal length135 metresWidth3.5 metresHistoryOpened6 July 2004Location Map

The Tajikistan–Afghanistan Friendship Bridge (Russian: Мост дружбы) connects the two banks of Darvaz region across the Panj River (further downstream known under the name Amu Darya) separating Tajikistan and Afghanistan,^[1]^[2]^[3] at the town of Qal'ai Khumb. It was opened on 6 July 2004.

Overview

Inaugurated by Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon, Afghanistan's Vice-President Nematullah Shahrani and Imam Aga Khan in July, 2004, the bridge was built at a cost of USD $500,000 by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) with collaborative support from the governments of the United States and Norway.^[1] It was the second in a series of bridges being built between Tajikistan and Afghanistan by the AKDN along the Panj River. (The Amu Darya begins at the junction of the Panj River and Vakhsh River.)

The 135-metre long suspension bridge has a single-track 3.5 meters wide and a carrying capacity of 25 metric tonnes.^[1] It carries both commercial and passenger traffic and represents a permanent overland link between the two countries.

Other Tajikistan-Afghanistan bridges

The first bridge crossing the Tajik-Afghan border was opened in November 2002, connecting Tem in Tajikistan and Demogan in Afghanistan.^[1] It too was constructed with assistance from the Aga Khan Foundation.

An additional bridge, connecting Tajikistan and Afghanistan, spanning the Panj river, at Panji Poyon (Nizhni Pyanj), was opened on 26 August 2007.^[4]^[5]^[6]

There are plans to span the border with an additional bridge, spanning the Panj river, in Gorno Badakhshan's Khumroghi area near Vanj.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Darwaz Bridge to strengthen commercial ties and Tajik-Afghan relations". Aga Khan Development Network. Archived from the original on 2012-02-13. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
^ ^a ^b "Navrouz celebration - Tajik-Afghan Bridge - UCA publishes new book on Gorno Badakshan". Ismailimail. 2008-03-31. Archived from the original on 2008-04-05. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
^ "Darwaz Bridge to Strengthen Commercial Ties and Tajik-Afghan relations". Aga Khan Development Network. Archived from the original on 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
^ "AFGHANISTAN-TAJIKISTAN: Work on US-built Tajikistan-Afghanistan bridge to start in spring". Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
^ "US-made Tajikistan-Afghanistan bridge opens". BBC News. 2007-08-26. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
^ Mavjouda Hasanova (2007-11-27). "Tajik FM, Afghan diplomat discuss handling of cargo traffic via Dusti bridge in Panji Poyon". Asia Plus. Archived from the original on 2009-11-09. Retrieved 2008-12-04.