DUSHANBE, October 17, Asia-Plus -- French Air Force Mirage jets will remain in Tajikistan until December.

Daniel Tielle, Defense Attache at the French Embassy in Dushanbe, told Asia-Plus that extending the deployment of the French Mirages in Dushanbe is  related to international coalition forces activities in Afghanistan. 

A source at a Ministry of Defense (MoD) confirmed the information, saying that Tajik authorities agreed to let France base its jetfighters at the Dushanbe airport until December 1.

At present three Mirages and 400 French military personnel are deployed at the airport in Dushanbe. They had originally planned to stay until October 15. 

French military planes have been based in Dushanbe since 2001 under a bilateral agreement between the two governments.