Pakistan to train Tajik troops

Pakistan has agreed to train Tajik army officers in Pakistani military academies. Tajik Defense Ministry spokesman Faridun Makhmadaliyev announced the agreement The plan calls for Pakistani military trainers to be sent to Tajikistan to prepare a curriculum prior to the Tajik officers arrive in Pakistan. The announcement followed discussions Thursday between Pakistani Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman General Khalid Shameem Wynne and Tajik Defense Minister Sherali Khairulloyev, the IA Regnum news agency reported Friday. Meeting participants discussed the "multifaceted cooperation between Tajikistan and Pakistan, especially in the military and military-technical spheres," sources said. The discussions also covered neighboring Afghanistan and the two sides agreed to cooperate in fighting international terrorism and to exchange intelligence on the regional situation. The officer training is the result of the 2009 bilateral military-technical bilateral cooperation agreement signed between Tajikistan and Pakistan. Wynne arrived Thursday in Dushanbe for a three-day visit and is also to meet with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.