[Considering that this story broke in the Soros press, specifically, Radio Free Europe, it is highly probable that this bogus story about economically defunct Tajikistan relocating the capital from Dushanbe to this little nothing town (Dangara, hometown of Tajik President Rahmon), is to cover Imperial tracks. The purpose of the article is to hide the development around this old Soviet airstrip and the area south of there with this bullshit cover story about relocating the capital. Since the Russian 201st motorized Division is still in Dushanbe, it looks like Russia and the US plan to share responsibility for southern Tajikistan the way that they have already co-co-opted Kyrgyzstan together. That must be what they mean by “a true strategic partnership between NATO and Russia.”]
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Plans For A New Airport Invite Speculation In Tajikistan
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon
Rumors are in the air in rural Tajikistan.
Danghara, a small town of 20,000 situated in Tajikistan’s southern lowlands, may not strike most observers as a likely spot to place a national capital. But locals are pointing to the start of work on a grand new international airport nearby to speculate that Tajik President Emomali Rahmon – a native of the area – intends to relocate his country’s seat of power to his modest hometown.
Their imaginations have been stoked by the rerouting of a major rail line that cuts through the planned site for the airport, which is slated to be the largest in Tajikistan. Danghara is located 150 kilometers from Dushanbe, the current capital and Tajikistan’s largest city, with nearly 700,000 residents.
The airport scheme is not the only reason Danghara’s residents are talking up their town as a possible successor capital. They point to other unusual capital projects that Tajikistan’s government has brought to the area, including a complete renovation of the town’s roads and extensive building construction. They also note that over the last 10 years, the government has steadily relocated families from the countryside to Danghara.
Townspeople from Danghara who spoke to RFE/RL’s Tajik Service were mostly enthusiastic boosters of the notion.
Taxi driver Said Akbar argued that Danghara’s topography gives it an advantage over mountainous Dushanbe.
“Danghara is a very good place; it is flat and provides enough land for a city to be expanded,” he said.
For now, Danghara officials are keeping mum on the topic. The town’s deputy mayor, Muhammadyusuf Shoev, told RFE/RL that “it’s not in my competency to talk about [the issue]. It’s in the competency of the provincial government and national government.”
