Tajikistan: Top Border Officials Agree To Reinforce Afghanistan Border

Moscow, 30 August 1996 (RFE/RL) - Top border service officers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have agreed to reinforce joint measures along the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border.

The officials met in Moscow yesterday to hear again Russia's claims that more than 1,000 Tajik opposition fighters have assembled in the border region and are preparing a large assault into Tajikistan.

The border service officers proposed additional armored vehicles and artillery be provided to the Russian-led, CIS peace-keeping force on the border. CIS border service commanders will discuss the issue again when they meet in Tbilisi next month

Russia's Foreign Ministry this week also said special envoy on the Tajikistan conflict, Yevgeny Mikhailov, will travel to Kabul for talks on security along the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border.