Tajikistan - Armed forces

There were an estimated 6,000 personnel in the armed forces in 2002. The army was equipped with 35 main battle tanks. The air force had some 800 personnel, operating 4 or 5 armed helicopters and no combat aircraft. A plan exists to acquire aircraft and form an air squadron. There were an estimated 1,200 paramilitary border guards. The defense budget for 2001 was $35.4 million, or 3.9% of GDP. Russia had 12,000 federal border guards in Tajikistan. An opposition Islamic movement of 5,000 signed a peace agreement with the government in 1997 and was in the process of being integrated into the government forces.