Is there another route linking the two countries besides the Pamhir highway?


My map shows one road going south west off the main pamhir road just south of Osh. Someone told me that they don't think this road is passable for foreigners.

Another road goes west from Osh towards a city in Tj called something like Sidzhand. The map shows this road going into a few small peninsulars of Uzbekistan. I'm told locals travel freely along this route, but it is unknown what the score is for foreigners. Someone else told me that they heard it's possible to hire a taxi to drive off the main route to avoid the small bits of Uzbekistan (obviously travelling by motorcycle I'd be able to do that without the taxi).

Any info on these routes, both in their passibility and also which would be more interesting if they're passable for foreigners? And no I don't have an Uzbek visa so cannot take a route through Uzbekistan.


Finally, can anyone update about the current situation on the Pamhir highway?
I have received good info off an extreme Austrian riding a KTM. He found very cold snowy weather in the pamhirs, and said the part going east from Bishkek is closed to foreigners due to military activities, and that the alternative route is hugging the Afghan border and the Pindzh river (not sure if that's how to write it in english). This road is not fully marked on my map. He warned also that this is a pretty deep river crossing on this road. This info is maybe from one month ago though so I'm wondering if anyone else has different experiences from more recently?

Thanks,
nathan
Bishkek

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UK to Mongolia 2009, on a DR350

Road from Sary Tash going west is really closed for forigners. You can go trough enclaves but you will be asked for visa. You can drive around but this will need help of locals.
This year was snowy in Pamir and my friends who travelled in Pamir Hgw 2 weeks ago and were stuck by heavy snow. I travelled there many times and always was sunny
It is Asia - if there is a snow you have to stay and wait a day or two when it will melt Snow is a normal in high mountains and you can expect it any day. But normally it snows at night and melt during the day...
Road along Pyanzh river is beatifull and absolutely a must. Every year is in bad conditions in spring. In August is ok and passable. I will be there in 3 weeks so you can get fresh update.

I also highly recommend the route following the Afgan border - it is a really beautiful, remote route. There are no river crossings without bridges along this route, well at least there wasn't last year.

There is a third route starting from Kharog and heading due east between the Pamir Hwy and the Afgan border. We only road part of this route due to not having the correct permits, however the locals said that this route has a big river crossing that isn't always crossible. This is probably what the KTM guy was referring to.

The bit he was reffering to is in the west not that far from Dushanbe. If you head off to start the Pamhir highway from Dushanbe after about 100 klicks or so he reckons there's been some military operations against pro-taliban fighters.

In the east will definately take the route hugging the border. I'm leaving Bishkek today so will be riding there in the next few weeks. Will let you know how I get on and what the situation is with open/closed roads and snow etc.

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UK to Mongolia 2009, on a DR350

They will only allow in people who are not wearing British sea power t-shirts. stop sitting around drinking coffee Jim xt600 tenere