The Russian military base in Tajikistan is equipped with everything necessary to assist the republic in resolving the situation on the border with Afghanistan, but if additional efforts are required from Russia, they will be made, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko told reporters on Tuesday, answering a question from TASS.
"Everything will depend on how the situation in Northern Afghanistan develops. We understand that the situation there is quite tense because, according to some reports, 70 percent of the border is controlled by the Taliban (banned in the Russian Federation). As you know, we have the 201st military base deployed in Tajikistan, which is equipped with everything necessary to assist the republic in case of need," he said.
"If additional efforts are required, they will be made," the Russian deputy foreign minister added.
Supporting communication with Tajikistan
Rudenko said Moscow and Dushanbe maintain working contacts along the lines of defense agencies and border guards, and the situation on the Tajik-Afghan border remains in the focus of the parties.
"We have ongoing contacts [with the Tajik side] at the working level - through the military, through the border guards. The situation is under our attention," he said when asked by TASS.
Rudenko noted that much will depend on how events in northern Afghanistan develop. "We understand that the situation there is quite tense because, according to some reports, up to 70 percent of the border with Tajikistan is controlled by the Taliban," he added.
On July 5, the Tajik State Committee for National Security (SCNS) Border Guard Press Centre reported that 1,037 soldiers of Afghan government forces crossed into the country after being forced to retreat during armed clashes with the Taliban. Several such incidents have already occurred over the past two weeks. The press center noted that based on the principle of good neighborliness and non-interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan, the Afghan soldiers were allowed to cross into the territory of Tajikistan.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials from TASS