Tajikistan has always spoken out for peace in Afghanistan, and Afghanistan views Tajikistan as its protector, the Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan (HCNR), Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, noted at a media briefing yesterday after his meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.

“Along with this, we came to exchange opinions, study experience of each other.  In all international forums, Tajikistan has always championed the rights of the Afghan people.  With all this in mind, there was a need to exchange views once again and discuss these issues with the top leadership of Tajikistan,” Dr. Abdullah said.  

Dr. Abdullah was on a two-day visit Dushanbe on December 21-22 to discuss cooperation issues with high-ranking Tajik state officials.  He held talks with Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) Mahmadtoir Zokirzoda, Prime Minister Rasoul Qohirzoda and President Emomali Rahmon.

Yesterday, Dr. Abdullah also met with Afghan nationals living in Tajikistan.   

In a statement delivered at an online summit of the CIS Council of Heads of State, Tajik leader Emomali Rahmon on December 18 expressed concerns over a reported concentration of armed militants along the Afghan side of the 1,400-kilometer Tajik-Afghan border.