Igor Lyakin-Frolov: Russia will help Tajikistan – both through the CSTO and on a bilateral basis – in case Afghan extremists penetrate the country

Igor Lyakin-Frolov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Tajikistan, confirmed to RIA Novosti that Russia is ready to render any assistance to Tajikistan – both through the CSTO and on a bilateral basis – in case Afghan extremists penetrate the country.
“Deterioration of the military and political situation in Afghanistan due to the withdrawal of the US and NATO troops and the Taliban offensive in the north concerns Tajikistan’s leadership. However, we see no panicking, on the contrary, the Tajik authorities are determined to fortify the Tajik-Afghan border to the utmost to prevent any penetration of extremists from the territory of Afghanistan,” RIA Novosti quotes Igor Lyakin-Frolov as saying.
Meanwhile, according to Colonel General Aleksandr Lapin, commander of the Central Military District of the Russian Ministry of Defence, servicemen of the 201st Russian military base, as well as units of armed forces of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will conduct exercises at Kharb-Maydon training ground in the Khatlon oblast of Tajikistan on August 5–10. It is 20 kilometres away from the state border between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Republic of Tajikistan.
According to TASS, armoured vehicles of the Russian 201st military base in the Republic of Tajikistan have already arrived at the Kharb-Maydon training ground after a 200-kilometre march.
“During the march, the crews of T-72 tanks practiced combat convoy protection, traversing theoretically contaminated terrain, holding off attacks by sabotage and reconnaissance groups and aircraft strikes of the ‘enemy.’ Upon arrival at the training ground, the crews began to engineer positions and shelters for the combat vehicles,” the statement reads.
About 50 pieces of military equipment have been deployed so far.