Russia Puts Tajikistan-Afghanistan Border Security at Top of Agenda
Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov has said strengthening security along Tajikistan’s shared border with Afghanistan is at the top of Moscow’s security and defence agenda. He said Russia is paying special attention to the border as part of bilateral cooperation and regional security mechanisms.
Belousov said on Tuesday, 17 September, at a ceremony in Moscow marking Tajikistan’s 35th Independence Day anniversary that collective security formats within the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Commonwealth of Independent States were being actively expanded. He stressed that, in this context, strengthening Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan holds a special place.
The Russian defence minister also spoke of close military cooperation between Moscow and Dushanbe, adding that Russia’s 201st military base in Tajikistan is on alert to counter external threats. He also described Tajikistan as Russia’s strategic partner.
The remarks came amid recent security consultations between the two countries. Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week in a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon that Moscow was aware of Dushanbe’s concerns about the situation in Afghanistan, and that the two sides maintain close contact on security issues.
Tajikistan has repeatedly warned in recent months about security threats along its border with Afghanistan. According to officials in the country, concerns in Dushanbe have grown after several security incidents in border areas, including armed and drone attacks in late last year, and the attackers have been linked to armed groups based in Afghanistan.
Russia has also, since the Taliban returned to power, repeatedly warned of the risk of spreading instability and terrorist threats from Afghanistan into Central Asia. Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan is about 1,300 kilometres long and is regarded as one of the most important border lines in northern Afghanistan.
