The issue of the possible return of Russian border guards to the Tajik-Afghan border is not on the agenda, Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhrddin told reporters in Dushanbe on July 27.
Asked about the possibility of return of Russian border guards to the Tajik-Afghan border in connection with aggravation of the situation along this border, Muhrddin said, “The situation on the border with Afghanistan remains tense but we are able to protect our borders against any terrorist groups.”
According to him, they have not considered the possibility of return of Russian border guards to the Tajik-Afghan border and this issue has not been on the agenda.
Representative of the Russian MFA, Andrei Rudenko, said recently that they could consider the issue of return of Russian border guards to the Tajik-Afghan border in connection with aggravation of the situation if Tajikistan make request.
It is not the first time Russian officials mention the idea of bringing Russians back to Tajik borders. Russia experts raised the issue of the possible return of Russians to Tajikistan’s borders in late 2010 and in late 2014 as well.
Russian border guards were stationed alongside the Tajik border until 2006, when the task of guarding the border was handed over to their Tajik counterparts. A small group of Russian experts still remain there as consultants to the Tajik border services.
Recall, presided over by President Emomali Rahmon who is also Chairman of the Security Council of Tajikistan, a meeting of the Security Council of Tajikistan took place in Dushanbe on July 21.
According to the Tajik president’s official website, the meeting participants included the chairman of the Supreme Court of Tajikistan and heads of power-wilding and law enforcement structures of the country.
They reportedly discussed issues related to aggravation of situation at the Tajik-Afghan border in the southern part of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO).
Taking into consideration the aggravation of political situation in this region, the head of state ordered heads of power-wielding structures and law enforcement bodies to take specific measures to ensure national security in the area bordering Afghanistan, the president’s official website says.
Rahmon also ordered to take measures to strengthen the state border.
The head of state also gave specific instructions on increasing the country’s defense capacity, improving border control as well as increasing the level of combat readiness of military units and improving their logistics support, according to the Tajik president’s official website.
