Lieutenant-Colonel Zarobiddin Sirodzhev confirmed that Tajikistan had ordered the departure of Russian military advisors who were based in this impoverished ex-Soviet country for the past seven years.

But he told AFP that Russia remained a vital military ally for Tajikistan despite the decision, which took effect at the end of April.

"Russia from the first day since Tajikistan obtained independence has been our main and strategic partner, in particular in the military-political field, and it will remain so," the official added.

Both Tajikistan and Russia have ratified a 1999 accord on the Russian military presence in the country.

Dushanbe has not yet agreed to give Russian military complexes the status of being a "base," thus denying them various social benefits, but negotiations are continuing.

The 20-odd Russian advisors were high-ranking officers who helped to form the 10,000-strong Tajik armed forces, providing expertise for the defence ministry, general staff and commanders of army units.

On a visit to Tajikistan last Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to strengthen ties with Dushanbe but warned that the flow of Afghan drugs into Russia via the Central Asian republic was a serious problem.

Tajikistan's southern border with Afghanistan is guarded by some 11,000 Russian troops, and Russia has around 8,000 other troops based in the republic, the poorest in the former Soviet Union.

SPACE.WIRE