Tehran-Dushanbe axis renewed
On a state visit to Iran, Tajik President Rahmon met with Iran’s Khamenei and Raisi. The delicate situation in neighbouring Afghanistan and the search for an ally to replace Russia in the border dispute with Turkey-backed Kyrgyzstan are speeding up the thaw in relations that began in the summer 2019.
Dushanbe (AsiaNews) – Tajik President Emomali Rahmon ended his state visit to Iran with the signing of 16 cooperation agreements between the two countries.
The documents touch not only mutual support in social and economic development, but also shared positions on security and the fight against terrorism and extremism, drug trafficking, international crime syndicates and cyber crime. Relations with Afghanistan topped the agenda.
The main agreements include an accord on developing new technologies, cultural exchanges between the national museums of the two countries, youth and sports, migrants as well as cooperation in the fields of energy, water resources, roads and infrastructures.
The two countries have also inked a major agreement in tourism, and agreed to set up joint commissions to delimit their shared border, environmental protection, and trade.
With issues that divided Tajikistan and Iran over their respective role in Islamic terrorism and related conflicts settled and put behind them, President Rahmon met with Iran’s Supreme Guide, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei, and President Ebrahim Raisi, to discuss the delicate situation in neighbouring Afghanistan, which represents a threat to both countries.
Another reason why Rahmon is seeking Iranian support concerns Tajikistan’s border conflict with Kyrgyzstan, which is militarily supported by Turkey.
Hitherto, Dushanbe always counted on Moscow’s backing, but Russia is currently unable to provide support due to the war in Ukraine, and, in any case, it has followed a policy of neutrality in the dispute between Dushanbe and Bishkek.
According to Tajik political scientist Abdumalik Kadyrov, “Iran is the only country that can now intervene in favour of Tajikistan.” What is more, the ice of mistrust in relations between Dushanbe and Tehran has long since melted.
For one of Rahmon’s advisors, Sayfullo Safarov, deputy director of the Institute of the Tajikistan President Strategy Research, “the centuries-old cooperation between the countries has stood the test of time. We have never had, do not have and will not have problems with the people of Iran.”
Iran was the first country to recognise Tajikistan’s independence after the dissolution of the USSR in December 1991, and the two countries are very similar culturally and linguistically.
Until they began to drift apart in 2015, Iran was one of Tajikistan’s main foreign partners and investors, along with Russia and China, including US$ 220 million for the construction of the Istiqlol tunnel (ex Anzob) and the Sangtuda 2 Power Plant.
However, trade between the two countries came to a virtual stop over reciprocal accusations of supporting Islamic terrorism.
As Dushanbe began softening its position, relations between the two Farsi-speaking countries began to thaw three years ago. Since then, relations have improved.
Diplomatic contacts resumed on 1 June 2019 when Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin met with then Iranian President Hasan Rouhani and his counterpart, Javad Zarif, to discuss security issues.
Russia’s weakening international standing further rekindled Iran’s interest in this strategic central Asian country.
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