Tajikistan has fulfilled 96% of its autumn military conscription plan within the first 40 days of the campaign, according to the country’s Ministry of Defense (MoD).
An official source within a MoD says the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) completed its conscription target on the very first day, demonstrating a high level of organization. The capital city Dushanbe and Khatlon province have also fully completed their recruitment campaigns.
Ayni, Kuhistoni Mastchoh, Shahristan and Spitamen districts as well as Panjakent, Istiqlol, Buston and Guliston cities in Sughd province have also completed the draft.
Sangvor, Nurobod, Rasht, Tojikobod, Lakhsh, Fayzobod districts as well as Hisor, Tursunzoda and Roghun cities have also completed their targets.
Authorities emphasize that the conscription campaign is proceeding in accordance with national laws and organizational protocols. Full completion is reportedly expected in the coming days.
In the territorial cross section the percentage the target reached was: GBAO – 100 percent; Dushanbe – 100 percent; Khatlon Province – 100 percent; Districts Subordinate to the Center – nearly 95 percent, and Sughd Province – 89 percent.
The autumn conscription campaign is carried out from October 1 through November. The draft affects able-bodied male citizens in the age bracket of 18 years old to 27 years old, who are not members of the armed forces reserve. The same decree provides for the retirement from active duty of soldiers and sergeants whose service under conscription is over.
The two-month-long effort seeking to enlist young men aged 18-27 for the two-year compulsory military service takes place twice a year, in the spring and in the autumn.
Young Tajiks can avoid or postpone military service if they are ill, studying at university, an only son, or if they have two children.
Recall, amendments have been made to the country’s law on military service in early 2021. The amendments came into effect on February 4, 2021 and young men in Tajikistan who wish to forgo the military service may now do so by paying a fee to the government. A one-month basic reserve service is organized for those who did not perform conscript service for a fee. At the end of basic reserve service they receive military cards.
Besides, under the law on the universal military duty in new edition, graduates of universities having military department will also be drafted into the army for one year.
Only people who have done military service will be permitted to obtain employment with the government or join the army in a professional capacity.
Tajikistan’s armed forces consist of Ground Forces, Mobile Forces (paratroopers of the armed forces of Tajikistan), Air Force and Air Defense Force.
