Dushanbe, 29 October 1996 (RFE/RL) -- Tajikistan's President Imomali Rakhmonov says countries bordering on Afghanistan have to be aware that the country, torn apart by civil war, is "a breeding ground for military and political adventurism, for instability."
Rakhmonov made the comment as he opened a two-day meeting of defence ministers from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Dushanbe today. The meeting is being attended by all CIS defence ministers, except those from Turkmenistan and Moldova.
The main topic of discussion was expected to be the civil war in Afghanistan. Tajik officials, especially, are worried by the developments there. There are about 25,000, mainly Russian, troops stationed in Tajikistan to prevent cross-border attacks by Islamic rebels who fled to Afghanistan following the 1992 Tajik civil war.
The conference was also expected to deal with a plan for CIS air-defense measures.
Rakhmonov made the comment as he opened a two-day meeting of defence ministers from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Dushanbe today. The meeting is being attended by all CIS defence ministers, except those from Turkmenistan and Moldova.
The main topic of discussion was expected to be the civil war in Afghanistan. Tajik officials, especially, are worried by the developments there. There are about 25,000, mainly Russian, troops stationed in Tajikistan to prevent cross-border attacks by Islamic rebels who fled to Afghanistan following the 1992 Tajik civil war.
The conference was also expected to deal with a plan for CIS air-defense measures.