IMAGE: Nozim Kalandarov/TASS
On February 5, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that his country will assist Tajikistan in modernizing its armed forces and fortifying its state border in light of threats emanating from Afghanistan’s territory. The announcement was made following talks with his Tajik counterpart Sirodjiddin Muhriddin.
“We have already began work to provide assistance to our Tajik friends in re-equipping their armed forces, fortifying the state border, including in light of the persisting threats, which continue to emanate from Afghanistan’s territory,” Lavrov stressed.
The foreign minister also adressed the role played by the 201st Russian military base in Tajikistan.
“This is an important factor for Tajikistan’s security and an important factor of those common challenges dealt with by the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO),” he said. “We expressed quite a few interesting ideas concerning the development of cooperation in Central Asia to solve the remaining problems here most effectively and promote the harmonious development of all states in the region.”
Lavrov added that Moscow “is ready to contribute to these processes using our historical connections, our common economic base, which was created during the Soviet era and, of course, using our mutual interest in maintaining the security of this region where our allies and friends live.”
On April 2, the press service of the Russian Central Military District said that joint tactical drills of the 201st Russian military base and Tajikistan’s armed forces had kicked off at the mountain training range Lyaur near Dushanbe.
“Russian servicemen marched to the designated area of the Lyaur training range, where units of the 201st military base are taking part in joint tactical drills together with Tajikistan’s servicemen. The participants in the maneuvers will practice tactical cooperation, repelling enemy attacks, blocking and destroying enemies. Grad multiple rocket launcher systems will be used the drills,” the report said.
The press service revealed that aboout 700 Russian servicemen and 150 Tajik servicemen will take part in the drills, and over 150 units of military equipment will be used.
The drills will continue until March 22.
very good and a solid reason to do so, now that moronistan has moved number of isis-guys from syria/iraq to afghanistan in general and borders with tadjikistan, uzbekistan kyrgizistan und zu weiter specifically,there is a need to keep a close look on the situation there.