DUSHANBE. Sept 28 (Interfax-AVN) - The headquarters of Russia's 201st motorised rifle division stationed in Tajikistan has started planning further mine clearance of the territories on the country's northern border, a headquarters spokesman said on Friday.
Removal of mines will take place in the Pendzhikent district and near the Kyzyk-Art and Daroot-Korgon passes, the spokesman told Interfax-Military News Agency. Mine clearance will be carried out by field engineer formations. Despite removal of mines from a huge area, locals still touch off explosive devices from time to time, the spokesman stressed.
Minefield are especially dense on the border with Uzbekistan. Besides, several minefields were set by Russian troops after gunmen had opened fire at the 12th cordon of the Moscow border guard detachment. Specialists say that the total number of mines planted in Tajikistan makes 100,000 units. Most of them are located in the Tavildarin district, Garm valley and in the area adjacent to Afghanistan.