DUSHANBE, February 3. /TASS/. Russia will provide all possible assistance to Tajikistan’s army by supplying weapons and military equipment, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov told Tajik Defense Minister Sherali Mirzo on Wednesday.
"Our Tajik friends and brothers are experiencing new challenges and threats, taking into account the problems emanating from Afghanistan. For us it is important to understand what is going on there, what you are doing, and, of course, to render maximum assistance to the armed forces of Tajikistan by supplying arms, military equipment and providing everything necessary to boost their combat readiness," Antonov said.
- Around 1,000 Tajiks fighting alongside Islamic State — interior minister
- More than 1,000 Taliban fighters concentrated on Tajik-Afghan border — security officer
- Russian attack helicopters to be moved to military base in Tajikistan
- Border guards in Tajikistan note big numbers of terrorist on Afghan territory
He noted that Tajikistan was a priority area for Russia for developing military and military-technical cooperation. "We proceed from the assumption that the better Tajikistan’s security is, the better Russia’s security is," Antonov said.
He also promised that Russia’s 201st military base located in Tajikistan would be used, if necessary, "for protecting the national integrity and sovereignty of Tajikistan and, of course, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) as a whole.".