Tajik President Emomali Rahmon yesterday afternoon held phone talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, according to the Tajik president’s official website.

The parties reportedly discussed a range of issues related to bilateral collaboration between Tajikistan and the Russian Federation in a format of strategic partnership, including trade and economic as well as military and technical cooperation.

Rahmon and Putin also exchanged views on a number of international and regional issues being of mutual interest with a special focus on the latest developments in Afghanistan.

They, in particular, noted that escalation of tension in Afghanistan “can have a negative impact on general state of regional security.”

The parties spoke in favor of further coordination of efforts to strengthen the Tajik-Afghan border on both bilateral and multilateral basis and comprehensively promote the peaceful settlement of the Afghan problem, the Tajik president’s official website said.  

The presidents reportedly reached an agreement to continue close contacts and interaction between relevant ministries and agencies of the two countries on the issues of strengthening the regional stability.  

The two leaders also talked about the preparations for the upcoming Collective Security Treaty Organization, and SCO summits that will take place in the Tajik capital next month.