The Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) says it plans to conduct military exercises in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan due to the ongoing situation in Afghanistan.
Citing Vladimir Zainetdinov, a spokesman for the CSTO, Interfax said on August 27 that several thousand troops will be involved in the planned military exercise, dubbed Rubezh (Frontier), which will be conducted in Kyrgyzstan from September 7-9.
According to Zainetdinov, three more military exercises will be conducted close to the Tajik-Afghan border in October, with a fourth scheduled for November.
The military exercises, dubbed Poisk, Eshelon and Vzaivodeystviye will be conducted in October and the special tactical exercise, dubbed Kobalt, will be conducted in November, the CSTO spokesman added.
Recall, a trilateral joint military exercise, involving 2,500 troops of Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, was conducted at the Harbmaidon training ground in the Tajik southern Khatlon province about 20 kilometers from the Afghan border on August 1-10.
The war game was reportedly conducted against the background of the aggravation of the situation and the threat of penetration of radical terrorist groups into the border countries of the Central Asian region.
Central Asian nations bordering Afghanistan are concerned over security threats emanating from the war-torn country and the potential for tens of thousands of refugees to pour over the border.
The Taliban has sought to reassure neighboring countries and Russia that it poses no threat since gaining control over much of Afghanistan’s territory, including Kabul, in several weeks.
The group has pledged to rule differently than during its brutal regime of the 1990s that saw women confined to their homes, most entertainment banned, and punishments that included stonings and public executions.
But their promises are being treated with skepticism by many Afghans and governments around the world.
Russia, which has military bases in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, has vowed to defend Moscow's allies in Central Asia against any security threat from Afghanistan.
As it had been reported earlier, Russian Vice-Premier Yuri Borisov told reporters at the Army-2021 Forum on August 23 that Russia is ready to supply weapons and military hardware to the CSTO member nations bordering Afghanistan at special low prices.
“We will do whatever is necessary to strengthen our southern borders, including what you said. Perhaps,” Yuri Borisov said, answering the related question.
It is to be noted that of the Central Asian member nations of the Russia-led security bloc, only Tajikistan borders Afghanistan.
Russia has called for joint action with its allies in Central Asia to prepare for potential security threats from Afghanistan following the U.S. exit of troops and the Taliban's lightning takeover.
The Collective Security Treaty Organization currently has six member nations, namely Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
