"Given these developments," he told the State Duma Wednesday, answering a question about drug trafficking once Russian boarder guards left, "I think the situation on the Tajikistani-Afghan border will remain stable."
He said that according to an agreement with Tajikistan, many Russian border guards would remain in Tajikistan to provide assistance.
Nevertheless, "it is a sensitive issue," which he described as "topical." "Life will put things in their place," he said.
According to an agreement on cooperation between Russia and Tajikistan on border-related matters, interaction between the countries' authorities will include guarding Tajikistan's border and assistance developing border structures like the provision of arms, military equipment and logistics.
The Federal Security Service is setting up a boarder guard unit to coordinate and assist the Tajikistanis guarding the border. The unit will not be used in missions outside of the agreement. The unit could be used to help in the aftermath of accidents on the commanders' discretion.
Russian border guards have protected the Tajikistani-Afghan border in accordance to a 1993 agreement. Since then, over 40,000 Tajiks have worked as part of the Russian border guard force.
