President Emomali Rahmon today has visited two districts in Khatlon province bordering Afghanistan. 

According to the Tajik president’s official website, the purpose of the visit was for the head of state to get acquainted with the state of combat readiness of border units deployed along Tajikistan’s common border with Afghanistan.   

The president began his trip from visiting the border unit deployed in Panj district.   More than 2,000 border guards were reportedly lined up to greet the president.

The Panj border unit commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Doniyor Faizullozoda reported to him about the readiness of the subunits entrusted to hm.  

Addressing the border guards, the head of state emphasized that protection of Tajikistan’s common border with Afghanistan was of significant importance not only for security of Tajikistan but also for ensuring security of the CIS, moreover, the European Union.

After his speech, a military parade of regular units and reserve forces was held.  Servicemen of power-wielding structures, law enforcement agencies and reservists were on the military parade.  

The head of state then held a separate conversation with the personnel of the on-call reserves.

Emomali Rahmon then went to Hamadoni district, where he got acquainted with the state of readiness of border guards deployed to the Tajik-Afghan border there.  A military parade of regular units and reserve forces was also held at the Hamadoni border unit.  

Recall, speaking at a meeting of national security officials convened on July 5, President Emomali Rahmon ordered the Defense Ministry to mobilize 20,000 servicemen to help bolster the border with Afghanistan.