A joint military exercise for military personnel of Tajikistan, Russia and Uzbekistan is expected to be conducted at the Tajik-Afghan border in early August.
A source within the Tajik power-wielding bloc says a ten-day military exercise that will be conducted from August 1 to August 10 will take place at the Harbmaidon training ground in the Tajik southern province of Khatlon will involve special forces, armored vehicles, air-defense units and attack aircraft of the three countries.
The exercise scenario is reportedly based on a group of terrorists penetrating into Tajikistan. The military personnel of the three countries will rehearse coordination and interaction in combat missions in mountains and deserts to annihilate terrorist groups.
It will be the first full-fledged joint military exercise of Tajikistan, Russia and Uzbekistan, the source added.
The Taliban militants now control practically the entire Afghanistan’s common border with Tajikistan. In each hamlet along the Panj River, the militant group has hoisted the white flag that has become their identifying standard.
As the Taliban’s advances appeared to be picking up momentum in early July, official appealed to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) for help securing the border. At a meeting of national security officials convened on July 5, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon ordered the Defense Ministry to mobilize 20,000 servicemen to help bolster the border with Afghanistan.
