Russia to Enhance Tajikistan’s Border Security with Military Supplies Amid Afghan Concerns

Russia is set to supply weapons and military equipment to Tajikistan to bolster its border with Afghanistan. The first shipment is expected to arrive in Dushanbe in the fall of 2024.

Russia Sends Arms to Strengthen Tajikistan’s Border with Afghanistan

Talatbek Masduqov, the Secretary-General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), expressed concern over the current situation along the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border. He stated that Russia will be sending military weapons and equipment to Tajikistan to enhance security in this region. In a media interview, he confirmed that these supplies would be dispatched to Dushanbe this fall.

Member States Agree on Military Equipment

Masduqov added that CSTO member countries have reached an agreement on the list of weapons and equipment needed by Tajikistan. This equipment will be sent according to a “targeted intergovernmental plan.” He emphasized the urgency of strengthening the border, as any security incident in this area could have repercussions for other member nations.

Russia’s Readiness to Assist Tajikistan

The official also noted that despite its own domestic challenges, Russia is prepared to assist Tajikistan and other member states of the organization. He acknowledged the efforts of Tajikistan’s border forces to secure the border but pointed out that they currently lack sufficient resources.

Visit to the Tajik-Afghan Border

During a visit invited by Emomali Rahmon, the President of Tajikistan, Masduqov, along with the commander of the country’s border forces, surveyed more than 700 kilometers of the approximately 1,300-kilometer long border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. The CSTO approved a five-year plan to reinforce this border during the Astana summit in November 2024, marking the beginning of a process initiated a year ago.