TEHRAN -- Iran on Tuesday opened a factory in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe for manufacturing its Ababil-II drones in the Central Asian country.
The plant was inaugurated in a ceremony attended by chief of staff of the Islamic Republic’s armed forces Major General Muhammad Baqeri and Tajik defense minister Colonel General Sherali Mirzo.
Describing the opening of the drone factory in Dushanbe as a turning point in military collaboration between the Islamic Republic and Tajikistan, Baqeri said at the opening ceremony that Iran is now able “to export military equipment to allied and friendly countries in addition to meeting domestic needs in order to increase security and lasting peace”.
“God willing, we will witness greater cooperation and interaction at all military and defense levels between Iran and Tajikistan in the future,” Baqeri said.
Before the opening ceremony, Baqeri and Mirzo also held a meeting to discuss plans to cooperate in the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking, and organized crime.
During his stay in Dushanbe, the Iranian top general was also set to meet with President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon.
Late in April, the United States House of Representatives passed legislation – dubbed the Stop Iranian Drones Act (SIDA) -- requiring the president to sanction persons and entities over Iran’s drone program.
Iran’s military drone program has expanded in recent years and UAV’s have been more frequently used in attacks in both on land and at sea.
Tajikistan has been grappling with the threat posed by thousands of takfiri terrorists spread across its southern border with Afghanistan ever since the Taliban came back to power in Kabul and the U.S. forces left in a chaotic pullout in August last year.
Earlier this year, President Rahmon used the Collective Security Treaty Organization teleconference to remind fellow leaders of the dangers his country is facing.
“We are extremely concerned that Daesh militants, and particularly their affiliate groups, are consolidating their positions in Afghanistan,” he said.
“According to our special services, there are over 40 terrorist camps and training centers on the border ... in the northeastern provinces of Afghanistan. They number more than 6,000 militants,” he said in January.