The Russian military base in Tajikistan will be strengthened with modern armored vehicles, Alexander Lapin, the commander of the Central Military District (CVO), told reporters.

“By the end of July this year, motorized rifle units of the 201st military base will receive 17 modern infantry fighting vehicles (BMP-2), which will significantly increase their combat capabilities when performing missions in any situation,” he said.

BMP-2 is used to transport personnel of subunits, their fire support, as well as to eliminate manpower, anti-tank weapons, tanks, lightly armored vehicles and low-speed air targets.

Recall that the 201st base in Tajikistan is the largest Russian military facility outside the Russian Federation.

It is located in two cities - Dushanbe and Bokhtar.

The base includes, among other things, motorized rifle, tank, artillery and reconnaissance units.

Last year, the base received about 20 units of new and modernized equipment, including Mi-8MTV5-1 transport and combat helicopters.

Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan Igor Lyakin-Frolov in an interview with Kommersant the day before called the 201st base of the Russian Federation "the guarantor of security and stability" on the southern borders of the zone of responsibility of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

At the southern borders of an ally

It should be noted that the decision to strengthen the Russian military base in Tajikistan was made against the background of the aggravated situation in Afghanistan.

Recall that the confrontation between the armed forces of the Afghan government and the militants of the radical Taliban * movement intensified after the United States and NATO began to withdraw their contingent from the Islamic republic.

“The situation in Afghanistan is a matter of our concern, and we, together with our partners in the CSTO, together with the countries bordering on Afghanistan, are in constant contact.

Of course, we are monitoring how this situation is developing.

So far, only disturbing news comes from there, ”said Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the Russian President.

According to media reports, the Taliban control over a hundred districts of the country, including parts of the Afghan-Tajik border.

  • Verification of documents at the Tajik-Afghan border

  • AFP

As Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova reported on July 9, Taliban militants took control of about two-thirds of Afghanistan's border with Tajikistan.

There have also been multiple cases of Afghan security forces entering Tajik territory as a result of clashes with the Taliban.

“The growing tension near the southern borders of our CSTO ally cannot but cause concern.

Moscow and Dushanbe are conducting intensive working contacts along the lines of defense departments, border services and diplomatic channels.

The situation at the border is under our closest scrutiny, ”the diplomat said.

She also stressed that the 201st Russian military base in Tajikistan is equipped with everything necessary to assist the republic in controlling the situation on the border.

"If necessary, additional measures will be taken with all determination in the spirit of the Russian-Tajik alliance to prevent aggression or territorial provocations," Zakharova said.

Later, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned the United States against moving troops from Afghanistan to neighboring countries.

According to him, this is unacceptable for Russia.

“We told the Americans about this directly and frankly,” he stated.

Recall that during a press briefing on July 2, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby did not rule out the likelihood of the deployment of US military bases in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan after the withdrawal of the American contingent from Afghanistan.

“I think we can say with confidence that in cooperation with our colleagues from the State Department, we are negotiating with neighboring (with Afghanistan. -

RT

) countries and studying the prospects for remote activities that could be carried out (from the territory of these countries. -

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) - Kirby said, answering a journalist's question whether Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are "two main candidates" for the creation of a nearby military base to conduct operations and continue activities in Afghanistan "on a remote basis."

"Quite a logical step"

According to experts, the strengthening of the Russian military base in Tajikistan is extremely important not only for the Russian Federation, but also for the countries of the region, since this facility ensures the tranquility of the entire Central Asia against the background of the unstable situation in Afghanistan.

“The Russian base is staffed with professionals and a good range of military equipment.

And the reinforcement with armored vehicles will further increase the mobility of rifle units, which is extremely important in this theater of operations.

The 201st Division has excellent military experience.

In a sense, this is a unique connection that has been in the country for a long time, knows the situation and the terrain, "said military expert Ivan Konovalov in an interview with RT.

In the opinion of Dmitry Egorchenkov, director of the RUDN Institute for Strategic Studies, against the background of the hasty withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan and the aggravation of the internal conflict in the country, "reasonable and rational" strengthening of the Russian military base in Tajikistan is "an absolutely logical step."

“Russia and its base play a crucial role in the region in terms of ensuring security.

We see that events in Afghanistan are developing dynamically and sometimes unpredictably.

Therefore, the strengthening of the military facility of the Russian Federation with modern BMP-2 is a reaction to these negative changes.

This step is intended to increase the firepower of the military and the mobility of units, "he said in an interview with RT.

  • Infantry fighting vehicle (BMP-2)

  • RIA News

  • © Ilya Pitalev

According to Yegorchenkov, the Russian base in Tajikistan is now dealing with a wide range of threats.

“Moreover, they relate not only to the fact that the Taliban may launch an offensive in post-Soviet Central Asia, but also to the activities of uncontrolled terrorist groups, including IS ** and Al-Qaeda ***.

In the course of a clash with the Taliban, the militants of these groups may move across the border towards Tajikistan, Russia and other countries.

In addition, the movement of US troops from Afghanistan to neighboring states will mean an expansion of the zone of chaos and instability.

After all, their opponents will follow the American military, ”the expert said.

At the same time, Konovalov believes that the likelihood of the United States deploying its troops or bases in countries neighboring Afghanistan is extremely small.

“The United States is unlikely to be able to return its contingent to Central Asia.

The United States has a terrible relationship with Pakistan, and almost none at all with Iran.

The American authorities, of course, can try to negotiate this with Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, which are not members of the CSTO, but even here there are few chances.

After all, these countries are well aware that the appearance of Americans on their territory will cause an extremely negative reaction from Russia, and also from the CSTO member countries, ”the analyst explained.

Experts predict that in the future the situation in Afghanistan will continue to deteriorate and deteriorate, but Russia and its CSTO allies in Central Asia have enough tools to resist any provocations in the region and stop them.

* "Taliban" - the organization was recognized as terrorist by the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of February 14, 2003.

** "Islamic State" (IS, ISIS) - the organization was recognized as terrorist by the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of December 29, 2014.

*** "Al-Qaeda" - the organization was recognized as terrorist by the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation dated 02.14.2003.