DUSHANBE, April 3, Asia-Plus – RIA Novosti – The second phase of military exercise, dubbed Rubezh-2007, for units from the rapid deployment force of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has started in Tajikistan today, Russia’s RIA Novosti reported.
The second phase, which lasts until April 5, considers issues related to a decision on carrying out antiterrorist operation, making by commander of the CSTO rapid reaction force deployed in Central Asia region.
The CSTO staff-command drill includes three phases and is conducted stages in the territories of two member nations of the Organization – Russia and Tajikistan.
The first phase was conducted in Moscow on March 27-29. This phase f the war game included evaluation of military-political and strategic situation and preparation and submission of proposals to the Collective Security Council and the CSTO council of defense ministers on stabilization of the situation within the CSTO area.
The main purpose of the final combat stage of the war game that will be held in Tajikistan on April 6 is to rehearse coordination and interaction in carrying out antiterrorist operation in Central Asia.
The final combat stage of the war game, involving 500 military personnel, 50 armored personnel carriers and tanks, as well as several SU-25s and helicopters Mi-24, will be held at the training ground Lohour, some 20 kilometers southwest of Dushanbe. The exercise scenario is based on neutralizing terrorist groups, according to the news agency.
CSTO members – Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan – use the organization as a platform for fighting drug trafficking, terrorism, and organized crime, and have pledged to provide immediate military assistance to each other in the event of an attack. The bloc has a Collective Rapid Reaction Force deployed in Central Asia, and is continuing to build up its military forces.
