DUSHANBE. Jan 14 (Interfax-AVN) - Another two Tajik mobile battalions will join the CIS Collective Rapid Deployment Forces in Central Asia in 2004, Tajik Defense Minister Sherali Khairulloyev told Interfax-Military News Agency Wednesday.
"In 2004 there will be three battalions of the Tajik Armed Forces in the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces: one already operational, its combat readiness highly assessed by the command, and this year another two battalions will be tailored into the Collective Force," he said.
According to the minister, these battalions will be equipped as all elite units should be. He added that the 10-year-old Tajik army has extensive experience of antiterror warfare.
Khairulloyev said that terrorism is a priority challenge in Central Asia. He emphasized that the Tajik army would strengthen cooperation with the military of Russia and other Collective Security Treaty Organization member states in order to provide higher security in the region.