The parliament of Tajikistan on Tuesday approved a deal that will allow Russian troops to remain on the border side of the country with Afghanistan.
Tajik lawmakers voted to extend the deal until 2042, amid fears that the withdrawal of the NATO troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014 could result to growing violence.
The deal was approved after Tajikistan’s defense minister told parliament Russia would continue to supply Tajikistan with weapons and train its officer corps in return for the base agreement.
Russia has deployed around 4,000 troops in Tajikistan, which are mainly based in three regions including the capital Dushanbe and southern cities fo Kulyab and Kurgan Tube.
The ratification of Tajikistan-Russia base agreement was done a year after Russian President Vladimir Putin and his counterpart from Tajikistan, Emomali Rakhmon had reached an agreement.
