President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon
DUSHANBE, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Central Asian republic of Tajikistan is mobilizing 20,000 reservists to protect its more than 900-kilometre-long border with Afghanistan.
This was ordered by President Emomali Rahmon after more than 1,000 Afghan soldiers had fled from Islamist Taliban fighters into the ex-Soviet republic by early Monday, July 5.
It was the largest number of people so far in one day to flee to safety for fear of their lives.
The Tajik border troops said they had let the people into the country as a sign of good neighbourly relations.
In the days before, members of the Afghan government troops had already fled from the Taliban in Badakhshan province.
The Islamists are on the advance in northern Afghanistan and have taken control of numerous districts there.
According to its border guards, Tajikistan has so far remained in control.
However, Russia also expressed concern about the situation. The Kremlin complained of destabilization in Afghanistan due to the withdrawal of troops by the United States and its allies. — NNN-AGENCIES
