Deputy Foreign Minister Abdullah Yubdoshev told reporters his country sees no barriers to the swift conclusion of a deal that would allow NATO forces transit routes to support their fighting to the south.

"Tajikistan sees nothing at all preventing the signing of an agreement allowing the transit of US non-military cargo to Afghanistan," he said.

The United States and its NATO partners have been searching for alternative supply routes into Afghanistan since the Kyrgyz government evicted them from a key airbase on its territory in February.

Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon had already signalled his willingness to sign such an agreement in February, but negotiations are still thought to be ongoing.

Several other Central Asian states including Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have already lined up to offer Washington similar transit rights.

Russia, China War Games Begin In Tajikistan: Ministry
More than one thousand soldiers from Russia, China and Central Asia have arrived in Tajikistan for three days of joint military exercises, the country's defence ministry said Friday.

The war games are being held under the auspices of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a regional group dominated by Moscow and Beijing that has raised concern in the West about becoming a possible counterweight to NATO.

"These exercises are aimed at perfecting the coordination of our countries in different anti-terrorism operations and preparing for the fight against international terror," ministry spokesman Faridun Makhmadaliev told AFP.

The main event -- a joint military exercise including attack helicopters, fighter jets and armoured vehicles -- will take place on Saturday at the Fakhrabad military base south of the capital Dushanbe.

The exercises come as Moscow looks to reassert itself in Central Asia after losing its grip over what it considers its traditional sphere of influence following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The former Soviet republic of Tajikistan borders Afghanistan, where Western forces have been struggling to put down a Taliban insurgency and eliminate Al-Qaeda hideouts.

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