OREANDA-NEWS The leaders of the Taliban movement* (a terrorist organization banned on the territory of the Russian Federation) have transferred ten thousand militants to the provinces bordering Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, said the chief of the Taliban General Staff, Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat.

According to him, a group equipped with modern weapons and equipment manufactured in the United States and other NATO countries is concentrated in the northern and northeastern regions of Afghanistan.

"In the shortest possible time, combat aircraft will be ready and will support this powerful force," Fitrat added.

The militants are located in the northern province of Balkh, bordering Uzbekistan, as well as in the northeastern provinces of Kunduz, Takhar and Badakhshan on the border with Tajikistan.

Earlier it became known that the Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko will pay an official visit to Tajikistan on February 24-25. This was reported to IA "REGNUM" at the Russian Embassy in Dushanbe.

"Matvienko will hold a meeting with President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, chairmen of the upper and lower chambers of the Parliament of the Republic Rustam Emomali and Mahmadtoir Zakirzoda, and other officials," the agency interlocutor said. The parties, in particular, will discuss issues of bilateral cooperation between Russia and Tajikistan, the development of inter-parliamentary and other ties. In addition, Matvienko is scheduled to participate in the Russian-Tajik interparliamentary forum on trade and economic regional cooperation.

*A terrorist organization, banned on the territory of the Russian Federation.