DUSHANBE, February 17, Asia-Plus  -- India has reportedly provided 5.5 million U.S. dollars worth of no-strings aid to the Ministry of Defense (MoD) of Tajikistan.

Faridoun Mahmadaliyev, a spokesman for a MoD, says representatives from India’s Defense Ministry handed over one Russian helicopter MI-8 and six military transport trucks to the Tajik side on February 16.  “The helicopter and the trucks were donated in a no-strings aid,” Mahmadaliyev said.

According to him, Tajik Minister of Defense, Colonel-General Sherali Khayrulloyev, appreciated India’s support and noted that military and technical cooperation between Tajikistan and India would promote regional security.