Tajik, Indian defense ministers hold talks in Moscow to discuss boosting defense cooperation

On September 5, Tajik Defense Minister, Colonel-General Sherali Mirzo, met in Moscow with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) defense ministers’ meeting.

Rajnath Singh posted photos from the meeting on his Twitter and noted that he interacted with his Tajik counterpart Colonel General Sherali Mirzo on a wide spectrum of defense ties between the two countries.  Indian defense minister described the meeting as “extremely fruitful.”

"Had an extremely fruitful meeting with Defense Minister of Tajikistan, Colonel-General Sherali Mirzo in Moscow. Our talks included a wide spectrum of India-Tajikistan defense relations," Singh tweeted.

ИЗОБРАЖЕНИЕ

Relations between India and Tajikistan have traditionally been close and cordial. There has been a regular exchange of high level visits, which helped in cementing the relations.

So far, 35 Tajik military cadets and 67 young officers have undergone training at National Defense Academy in Pune, Indian Military Academy in Dehradun and other training establishments to induct them in the Tajik forces.  India has also set up a military hospital in Tajikistan.

On the same day, Rajnath Singh held talks in Moscow with the defense ministers of Kazakhstani and Uzbekistan to boost the defense cooperation.  

Recall, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on September 6 held talks with his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Amir Hatami to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues.  

Rajnath Singh arrived in Tehran on Saturday for an unscheduled stopover on his way back from Moscow after a three-day visit, during which he attended a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) defense ministers’ meeting.

It was the first travel of a top Indian official to Iran since the December 2019 outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.