DUSHANBE, 26.12.2022 (NIAT Khovar) – It is necessary to modernize the national defense of Tajikistan. This was stated by President Emomali Rahmon on December 23 in his annual Address to the Parliament.

“Currently, terrorists and extremist groups apply new ways and methods to recruit citizens to their ranks by availing modern information technologies to mislead inexperienced youth with their extremist ideas,” he said.

Therefore it is important for the relevant authorities to further expand the coordination of activities in the area of detection and prevention of terrorist and extremist threats by strengthening educational activities in order to sway young people away from extremism, and to educate them in the spirit of dedication to their people and homeland and respect for universal human values.

President Emomali Rahmon emphasized the necessity of establishing a Unified Information Center to prevent extremist and terrorist crimes, as well as crimes committed with the use of information and communication technologies.

He instructed the Prosecutor General’s Office, the State Committee for National Security, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, jointly with other authorities to study the possibility of the establishment of the above-mentioned center and submit their proposals to the government.

He added that the complicated worldwide situation urges us to accelerate the renovation and equipment of the Armed Forces, enhance combat readiness and defense capacity building of the country.

“The government, the Ministry of Defense and other relevant authorities are mandated to develop and submit the National Defense Concept to increase the country’s defense capacity,” he emphasized.