Russia may deploy soldiers on Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan

The Russian forces may return on Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan amid fears the deteriorating security situation may affect the security of Central Asian countries, a source close to the Secretary General of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) said.

The Russian kommersant reported that the Russian forces may return once they receive a request from the government of Tajikistan.

The source further added Tajikistan however has only requested the CSTO’s technical assistance so far.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed concerns regarding threats posed to Tajikistan from the South due to deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan amid presence of terrorist groups and emergence of the ISIL loyalists.

According to the sources, the loyalists of the ISIL terror group are looking to infiltrate into Tajikistan as they are actively recruiting in Afghanistan.

The Russian forces were providing security assistance to Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan until 2005 but the Tajik forces took control of the security afterwards.