Dushanbe, Tashkent may establish joint production of military equipment

On March 6, the Lower House of the Parliament of Tajikistan unanimously ratified the agreement between Tashkent and Dushanbe on military-technical cooperation signed last August, the media group AP reports.

Speaking on this issue, the chief of the General Office of the Tajik Armed Forces, first deputy minister of defense, lieutenant-general Emomali Sobirzoda declared that within the framework of implementing this agreement, the two neighboring countries could launch a joint production of weaponry and military equipment.

In addition, the agreement provides for the joint repair, reconstruction of military equipment, exchange of military delegations and information.

With regard to the issue of demining at the border of two states, Sobirzoda noted that demining is carried out exclusively by the forces and means of Uzbekistan.

“They refused our help in this case, since demining is carried out exclusively on the territory of a neighboring state,” the lieutenant-general said.

In an interview with the AP, Emomali Sobirzoda said that today there are no problems in the cooperation between defense departments of the two states.

“We are in constant contact with our Uzbek counterparts, in the near future we will hold regular joint exercises of the armed forces of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan,” he said.

It is noteworthy that the first anti-terrorist exercises of soldiers and officers of the Tajik-Uzbek defense departments were held at the military training camp “Chorukhdairon” of Sughd region in September last year.