FBI May Join Search For Missing Tajik Girls

U.S. Ambassador Susan Elliot (right) meets with Tajik Interior Minister Ramazon Rahimov on April 14.

DUSHANBE -- The U.S. ambassador to Tajikistan has raised the possibility the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) could help in the search for two young Tajik girls who have been missing since the end of March.

Ambassador Susan Elliot made the offer during a meeting with Tajik Interior Minister Ramazon Rahimov on April 14, where the two were discussing security and combating terrorism, drug trafficking, and other crime.

Elliot said the FBI had extensive experience in searching for missing persons and modern technologies to aid in the search.

Interior Ministry spokesman Mahmadullo Asadulloev told RFE/RL that Rahimov said Tajikistan would gratefully accept any help in finding the two girls.

Cousins Malika, 5, and Sabina, 4, Aralova were last seen on March 25 when they went outside to play in Dushanbe’s Aini district.

With reporting by ITAR-TASS