CSTO to help Tajikistan fortify Afghan border defensesNovember 20, 2013 - 09:59 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A Russia-led regional military alliance of former Soviet states will help Tajikistan strengthen its border with Afghanistan by the end of this year, the organization’s head said Tuesday, November 10, according to RIA Novosti. The situation on the border is deteriorating and is expected to become even worse after the withdrawal of the international troops from the war-torn country next year, said Nikolai Bordyuzha, head of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. “The number of Afghan border guard outposts [on the Tajik border] has been cut in half recently. Large groups of bandits periodically show up on the border and the number of skirmishes doubled in the past 12 months,” Bordyuzha said at a meeting of Russia’s Public Chamber. CSTO members, Russia in particular, will provide Tajikistan with armaments and military hardware for free by the end of this year, Bordyuzha said. A targeted interstate program for creating relevant infrastructure on Tajik-Afghan border will be drafted soon, he said. The CSTO, which comprises Armenia, Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, signed a relative agreement on aiding Tajikistan on September 23. Founded on October 7, 2002, the CSTO was registered with the UN in 2003. One of its main objectives is to provide immediate military assistance to any CSTO member in the event of a military or terrorism threat. Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. CSTO: Armenia has not participated in secretariat’s work recently Recently Armenia has not participated in the work of the secretariat of the CSTO, Imangali Tasmagambetov said. Meeting with U.S., EU not against third parties, says Armenia The meeting scheduled for April 5 is dedicated to strengthening of the Armenia-EU-US cooperation, Yerevan added. Ucom launches network modernization efforts in few regions of Armenia In particular, on March 28, the legacy Mobile Switching Subsystem will be replaced with a new one. |