A demining machine donated to Tajikistan in 2012 has helped destroy thousands of landmines along the country’s border with Afghanistan.
The donation of the demining machine is a part of the ongoing diplomatic efforts of the U.S. to assist Tajikistan in clearing landmines and UXO, according to a diplomatic note the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs shared in April 2021.
“The United States has helped Tajikistan destroy 6,840 landmines along the Tajik-Afghan border since donating this $1.2 million MineWolf demining machine to Tajikistan’s MOD in 2012, saving countless lives and making 250 hectares of farmland safer for cultivation and grazing,” the Political-Military Affairs office of the U.S. Department of State said in a May 24 post on Twitter.
The U.S. has invested more than $29 million in Tajikistan since 2005 to help with the issue, the diplomatic note said. Landmines, UXO and stockpiles of aging ammunition in Tajikistan were inherited after the Soviet Union's collapse. The remaining active landmines and UXO contaminating the borders are from the Soviet's previous control of the borders and their attempts to prevent crossings by Afghan militants and narcotics traffickers. They are also remnants of Tajikistan's civil war in the 1990s.
One of the minefields that was cleared was known as 'MM6' and was located near the Navobod Village, according to the diplomatic note. The minefield blocked a water discharge channel which was a vital piece of the local population's agriculture. The blocked access caused it to fall into disrepair. It became covered with stones and clay, causing flooding in the surrounding area. That further stifled productive agricultural use. U.S funded demining teams, and cleared the area of all mines and UXO to make the area safe for farming once again.
