Tajikistan - Uzbekistan crossing at Panjakent

[steven]

Here we collect crossing reports of the Penjikent/Panjakent border between Samarkand and Dushanbe.

See http://caravanistan.com/border-crossings/tajikistan#uz for a summary.

[Yes Man]

Hi,

Can anyone tell if this border from Tajikistan to Uzbekistan is open to foreigners? I will be there beginning of September.

Cheers

[steven]

Still closed afaik like the last 5 years. Tajiks are optimistic about it though, they repaired the road. Let's see.

[trevor warman]

yes, as of end of may 2015... still closed..... for everyone..... though chinese are re building the road near Anyi, on the way to Panjikent......

apparently, the boss of Uzbek and boss of Tajik were like brothers.... now they don't get on , at all....

[bwv812]

Still closed afaik like the last 5 years. Tajiks are optimistic about it though, they repaired the road. Let's see.

I think this is wishful thinking. Uzbek-Tajik relations are rather strained, despite (or perhaps because of) the large number of ethnic Tajiks in Uzbekistan. I can't imagine Uzbekistan opening a border that will primarily benefit Tajiks, and I suspect the are paving the short distance from Penjikent to the border only because they're paving the entire Zerafshan valley from Ayni, as Trevor says.

Anecdotally, when I was picking up my Uzbek visa in Dushanbe I talked to Tajiks who had been jerked around for weeks by the Uzbeks about getting visas to visit relatives. And I've also seen how the ridiculous Uzbek border formalities result in locals spending hours confined in tiny, confined, no-mans-land at some border crossings (I look like a local, so I didn't get to jump the queue).

[steven]

I think optimism is really key in a place like Tajikistan or Uzbekistan. Without a bit of blue-sky thinking, nothing good would ever happen. Ever. Now, at least, some crazy reports of actually positive developments do reach us from time to time.

[hkwoody]

Any recent news on the Penjikent border crossing ?
If it's not open what's our best way of getting from Dushanbe to Samarkand overland ?
Thanks in advance.

[giorgiorederoma]

hello any new for penjikent border crossing ? i m in dushambe and I would like to visit Penjikent and cross at the nearest borser with uzbekistan,i cannot find any new here in Dushambe...

[steven]

Still closed.

[max90]

Hello,

Is there any possibility it would be open for august? What is the fastest way to go from Samarkand to Pendjikent if it is still closed?
Thanks