Russia is ready to use opportunities of its military base deployed in Tajikistan to protect its allies in connection with the situation in Afghanistan.
RIA Novosti says Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated this at a press conference in Laos.
“We will do everything, including the use of opportunities of Russian base at Tajikistan’s ode with Afghanistan in order to prevent any aggressive encroachments against our allies,” Russian top diplomat was quoted as saying.
The minister reportedly added, “Obligations under the CSTO remain in full force.”
According to him, representatives of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretariat have visited the Tajik-Afghan border and they will report the situation to the Permanent Council.
Lavrov reportedly noted that the situation in Afghanistan “tends to deteriorate rapidly”, including against the background of the withdrawal of the US and NATO forces.
The Russian military base deployed in Tajikistan is subordinate to the Central Military District. It is Russia's largest non-naval military facility outside the country. It was officially opened in Tajikistan in 2004 under a previous agreement, which was signed in 1993, and hosts Russia’s largest military contingent deployed abroad.
A total of some 7,000 Russian troops are now stationed at two military facilities collectively known as the 201st military base – in Dushanbe and Bokhtar (formerly Qurghon Teppa), some 100 kilometers from Dushanbe.
