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Middle East and North Africa

ISAF withdrawal from Afghanistan to make Tajikistan strengthen border security

Tajikistan’s external frontiers are vulnerable due to the ISAF withdrawal from Afghanistan this year, says President Emomali Rakhmon

A border guard in Tajikistan ITAR-TASS/Oleg Davydov

A border guard in Tajikistan

© ITAR-TASS/Oleg Davydov

DUSHANBE, October 15. /TASS/. The withdrawal of the International Security Assistance Force from Afghanistan will make Tajikistan provide additional budget means for strengthening security on its borders and protecting foreign investments, Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon said on Wednesday.

“After the collapse of the USSR the Tajik section of the border makes 60% of the border with Afghanistan. Tajikistan’s external frontiers are vulnerable due to the ISAF withdrawal from Afghanistan this year,” he said.

“If the anti-terrorist coalition withdraws troops from Afghanistan, Tajikistan has to increase expenses for strengthening its borders because there will be no investments, entrepreneurship development and the economy without guarantees,” Rakhmon said.

At the same time, he said Tajikistan is a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) that “guarantees financial, military-technical support to security of the CIS southern borders”.

Commenting on entrepreneurship in the republic, Rakhmon said, “Artificial barriers in the region should be taken into account” while analysing the investment climate.

“We favour cooperation with all states and international institutions. We come against the isolation and only cooperation can improve living standards of the population of Central Asia,” he said.

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Middle East and North Africa Afghanistan Tajikistan

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