Afghanistan’s Taliban movement has reportedly sought to reassure Tajikistan that it poses no danger.
Russia’s state-owned Sputnik news agency reported on July 5 that Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, pledged that the group would respect the security and inviolability of Tajikistan.
“We will maintain good relations with the friendly country of Tajikistan. Security will be maintained on the border and there will be no interference,” the spokesman was quoted as saying.
Recall, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon convened on July 5 a meeting in Dushanbe of national security officials to discuss the situation in areas bordering Afghanistan. Speaking at the meeting, Rahmon ordered 20,000 reserve officers to the Afghan border.
On the same day, Rahmon spoke over the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the latest developments in Afghanistan.
The Russian military base deployed in Tajikistan is Russia's largest non-naval military facility outside the country. A total of some 7,000 Russian troops are now stationed at two military facilities collectively known as the 201st military base. Tajikistan and Russia regularly conduct joint military exercises.
Citing a spokesman for Russia’s Central Military District, Interfax reported on July 6 that Russian servicemen had conducted a military exercise in Tajikistan amid aggravation of the situation in Afghanistan. The exercise reportedly involved transport and combat helicopters. The Russian base reportedly conducted an exercise strike from attack helicopters in a simulated scenario involving an incursion by an “illegal armed group.”
Two Mi-24 attack helicopters, two Mi-8MTV5-1 transport helicopters, and around 100 military personnel were deployed in the simulation, according to Interfax.
Interfax also reports that Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said on Tuesday that Moscow stood ready to provide Tajikistan with any assistance it needed.
Meanwhile, the number of Afghan soldiers that have fled into Tajikistan is now more than 1,500.
