DUSHANBE, June 20, Asia-Plus — Increasing crime rate in Gorno Badakhshan is forcing the government to take cardinal measures to stabilize the situation in the region, Defense Minister Sherali Khairulloyev said in an interview with Asia-Plus.
He is the first Tajik official to comment on the latest developments in Gorno Badakhshan. “We need to strengthen the border, which practically remains uncontrollable,” said the minister. “Over the first three months of this year, drug trafficking in the country has risen 40 percent compared to the same period of last year.”
Commenting on a statement by Imomnazar Imomnazar about transfer of additional troops to the region, the minister said, “Movement and distribution of troops are determined by the government but not separate persons.” According to him, the situation in Gorno Badakhshan is under control and the issue of sending troops to the region is stirred up by doubtful persons being involved in crime.
On Imomanazr Imomnazar, the minister claims that he has never been field commander. “This person is suspected of being involved in drug trafficking and other criminal actions, and if he does not stop his statements destabilizing the situation in the region and hand over weapons to police I will head in person special operation on neutralization of him,” Khairulloyev stressed.
