Russia granted military base in Tajikistan

[CHIMO]

The Central Asian country of Tajikistan has formally granted Russian forces a permanent military base, a move Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed as a guarantee of regional security.

Criticised by nationalists for failing to defend its interests and presence in Central Asia, Russia has of late been keen to match the growth of US influence in the region.

With about 7000 soldiers, Moscow said the 201 Divisions' headquarters in Tajikistan would be Russia's largest military base on foreign soil.

Relations between the two improved drastically during the 2001 US-led military invasion of Afghanistan.


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