DUSHANBE, February 23, 2016, Asia-Plus – President Emomali Rahmon has congratulated Tajik military on their professional holiday – the National Army Day.
In his televised message, the president today congratulated generals, officers and soldiers as well as veterans of the country’s armed forces on their professional holiday, noting that Tajik military are selflessly fulfilling their mission to provide security of independent Tajikistan and peaceful life of its people.
Today, Tajikistan marks the 23 rd anniversary formation of Tajikistan’s Armed Forces.
Tajik National Army Day has been marked on February 23 since 1993.
Tajikistan”s National Army now consists of Air and Air Defense Forces, Land Forces and Mobile Forces. The Mobile Force of Tajik Army was founded in 2005 without increase in a total strength of the country’s armed forces. Air and Air-Defense Forces were also united in 2005. Tajikistan’s armed forces also include National Guard and Security Forces (internal and border troops).
Unlike the other former Soviet states of Central Asia, Tajikistan did not form armed forces based upon former Soviet units on its territory. Instead, the Russian Ministry of Defense took control of the Dushanbe-based 201st Motor Rifle Division; actually control simply shifted from the former district headquarters in Tashkent, which was in now-independent Uzbekistan, to Moscow.
