The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Tajikistan was established by a presidential decree on January 4, 1992. It was founded just weeks after the Soviet Union was officially dissolved and months after Tajikistan declared its independence. The ministry was under joint Tajik and Russian control under February 1993, when the armed forces were founded. It 1994, with assistance from the Russian 201st Military Base and Russian authorities in Moscow, the Tajik ministry became fully functional in leading the armed forces under the directive of the President of Tajikistan. On 18 July 1996, a terrorist attack took place at the grounds of the defense ministry, which resulted in the death of 1 person and the injury of 9 people. In September 2015, a group of armed military personnel led by Abduhalim Nazarzoda attacked the defense ministry in an attempt to overthrow the Rahmon government.
The Tajik Mobile Forces, also known as the Mobile Forces of the Ministry of Defense of Tajikistan is made up of 20,000 paratroopers of the armed forces of Tajikistan. The mobile forces is a direct unit of the ministry of defense and is also a service branch of the Tajik Armed Forces, similar to the Russian Airborne Troops. It is currently based at the Dushanbe International Airport in the capital.
Commandant Regiment
The Commandant Regiment of the Ministry of Defense is the official security unit the ministry responsible for the protection of government officials. It is based in Dushanbe, and provides security for the building of the ministry, the parliament building, and the Kohi Millat. It is the Tajik equivalent to the Commandant's Office of the Moscow Kremlin. The Honour Guard Company of the Ministry of Defense is one of two ceremonial units of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan with the other being the special unit of the Presidential National Guard. The company is a purely representative unit made up of members of branches of the armed forces and serves under the command of the Commandant Regiment. The time frame for drafting into the unit is 3 to 6 months. Its missions include guarding important public buildings in Dushanbe and providing honours for foreign dignitaries and government officials at the Kohi Millat. The company has taken part in many international ceremonies and parades including in a parade on Tiananmen Square in honour of V-J Day in 2015 and a military parade on Red Square in 2020.
Bands
The Military Brass Band of the Ministry of Defense is the main and senior most military band in the armed forces. Although it is officially part of the Tajik National Army, the brass band is a directly reporting unit of the Defence Ministry. The band provides musical support in the annual Victory Day, Independence Day and Armed Forces Day parades, held in May, September and February respectively. The following military bands also operate under the command of the commandant's of the Ministry of Defense:
The House of Officers is a cultural center and gentlemen's club of the national army. Construction on the building took place between 2012 and 2016 and was built within the framework of a military agreement between the armed forces and the People's Liberation Army of China. The building consists of five floors amd basement area. Rooms in the building include a swimming pool, a large dining room, working rooms and service centers, assembly halls, recreation and entertainment areas and living compartments. There are approximately 20 bedrooms available in the building. Previously, a House of Officers cartying the name of Marshal Klement Voroshilov was located in Dushanbe from 1930 to 2003, being controlled by the Russian 201st Military Base.
