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Russia sends 1500 crack troops to Tajikistan

Russia is airlifting 1500 military personnel, who have combat experience in Afghan and Chechnya wars, to reinforce its troops in Tajikistan.

The Russian move comes in the wake of reports of fierce fighting between opposition Northern Alliance and the Taleban forces in Afghanistan close to the Takij border.

Most of the fresh troops have been recruited on a contract basis.

Russian defence ministry said sending of the troops was 'pre-planned' to fill vacancies, and had nothing to do with a possible American action on Afghanistan.

It said the Taleban had launched a major counter-offensive, recapturing several villages and strategic positions in the north of Afghanistan.

Any delay in US strikes could turn the tide in favour of the Taleban, the report said.

An Interfax news agency report said opposition warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum has sought urgent help from Russia and the US.

Meanwhile, another report said Russian military engineers were building three pontoon bridges across the Tajik-Afghan border on Panj river to supply heavy weapons to the Northern Alliance.

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