DUSHANBE , July 10, Asia-Plus - The U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is arriving in Tajikistan today evening for a short-term visit, according to reliable sources.  

During his short-term stay in Dushanbe Rumsfeld will hold talks with President Emomali Rahmonov in Dushanbe today evening.  According to the source, the two are supposed to discuss issues related to post-conflict reconstruction of Afghanistan ’s economy, providing security in the Central Asian region, and protection of the Tajik-Afghan border.    

We will recall that the U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld visited Tajikistan in July last year.  During his stay in Dushanbe Rumsfeld met with President Rahmonov and other high-ranking Tajik state officials.  Countering the flow of narcotics from Afghanistan , protection of the Tajik-Afghan border as well as issues related to post-war reconstruction of Afghanistan ’s economy figured prominently in Rumsfeld’s discussion with Tajik officials.