Tajik President Emomali Rahmon today is observing ongoing Tajik-Russian maneuvers at the Fakhrobod training ground.
The purpose of the maneuvers being conducted for Tajik and Russian servicemen at the Fakhrobod and Lohour training grounds is to rehearse coordination and interaction in annihilating terrorist groups penetrating into Tajikistan from Afghanistan, an official source at the Tajik Ministry of Defense (MoD) told Asia-Plus in an interview.
Besides, Tajik and Russian special force units are rehearsing interaction in rescuing hostages.
The joint four-day maneuvers for Tajik and Russian servicemen were launched at seven training grounds of Tajikistan on March 27. The Tajik-Russian maneuvers are being conducted at the Harbmaidon, Momirak, Fakhrobod, Jairali, Halqayor, Homiyon and Lohour training grounds.
On March 25, Russia's Central Military District said several military planes were brought to Tajikistan from Russia's Kant military base in neighboring Kyrgyzstan to take part in the maneuvers.
According to some media outlets, 50,000 Tajik troops and some 2,000 Russian military personnel are participating in the ongoing military exercises that will conclude on March 31.
Recall, the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe announced on March 20 that the U.S. Department of Defense will conduct a training exercise in partnership with Tajik security forces from March 27 through April 7. Approximately 150 Americans and 100 Tajik personnel are participating in the exercise conducted by U.S. Central Command, in coordination with U.S. government agencies and the Government of Tajikistan.
The training is a crisis response exercise consisting of simulated scenarios to facilitate a coordinated partner response to transnational terrorism. The majority of this exercise is reportedly being conducted at military training areas throughout Tajikistan.
