An exercise for the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Rapid Reaction Force is planned to be conducted in Tajikistan next month, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said today in Dushanbe at a meeting with Tajik Defense Minister Sherali Mirzo, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency.
Shoigu noted that military formations of Russia and Tajikistan regularly participated in the CSTO military exercises. “Two CSTO exercises dubbed Interaction and Unbreakable Brotherhood have been conducted this year,” the Russian minister said, noting that the Dushanbe-Anti-Terror-2017 exercises were conducted under the aegis of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in the Tajik capital in May.
"Russian and Tajikistan have common tasks on strengthening security and maintaining stability in the Central Asian region,” Shoigu was quoted as saying.
Recall, Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting with Russia's top military brass in Moscow on August 18 that the conflict between Afghan government forces and the Taliban poses a threat to Central Asia's stability.
Shoigu said that Russia will hold joint war games later this year with Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Russia has military bases in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
