Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will hold a set of exercises in connection with threats amid the withdrawal of US troops and NATO contingents from Afghanistan, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
"In general, if we talk about our cooperation - it is developing quite successfully. We are conducting a large set of exercises with Tajikistan related to the threats that arise. There are exercises with our Uzbek colleagues coming up, then there are triple exercises - Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan. I hope we will conduct them as planned and with the expected effect," Shoigu said Wednesday at a meeting with Tajik Defense Minister Sherali Mirzo.
Shoigu noted that "quite a lot of different kinds of security risks and threats are being created." "But nevertheless, we must both within the CSTO and within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization not only discuss issues, but also take appropriate decisions and appropriate measures to ensure the security of borders and territories of Collective Security Treaty countries. I hope to discuss all these issues with you," Shoigu said, noting that much work is being done to secure the Tajik-Afghan border.
The Russian Defense Minister also specified that the meeting with Tajikistan's Defense Minister provides an opportunity to discuss security issues in the Central Asian region. "This is something that concerns not only us and affects not only our bilateral relations, but also the relations of all bordering states. We also have things to discuss in terms of military-technical cooperation. Thank you for the invitation, we gladly accepted it. We hope to see you at events in Moscow as well," Shoigu added.
Threats from the territory of Afghanistan
According to Shoigu, the surge of terrorist activity in Afghanistan amid the hasty withdrawal of foreign troops from the country and the rapid degradation of the situation require appropriate measures, such work is already underway.
"Today, joint work on neutralizing threats from the territory of neighboring Afghanistan comes to the forefront. The hasty withdrawal of foreign troops has provoked the rapid degradation of the situation, a strengthening and surge of terrorist activity. This situation requires appropriate measures to be taken. Such work is already being done," he said.
According to the head of the Russian military department, a number of joint exercises are planned on a bilateral basis and within the CSTO in order to practice the actions to counter terrorist threats in the Afghan direction.
"Additional gratuitous supplies of Russian weapons and equipment have been organized to equip the army of Tajikistan. We continue to train qualified Tajik military personnel. We train them both in our military universities and at the 201st Russian military base. We provide everything needed for combat training. We pay increased attention to strengthening of our combat capabilities and specification of plans on joint repulsion of possible penetration of fighters," Shoigu said.
He stressed that the Russian side is ready "to provide any required support to the Tajik friends".
Actions to eliminate bandit formations
Shoigu said soldiers from Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will train practical actions to eliminate bandit formations, conduct aerial reconnaissance and protect facilities during the exercises to be held in Central Asia next week.
"Next week, in order to respond to the worsening situation in Afghanistan, we will conduct exercises together with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on their territories. Practical actions will be worked out to inflict fire on and eliminate militants, conduct aerial reconnaissance and strengthen protection of important facilities," Shoigu said at a meeting of defense ministers of the SCO member states in Dushanbe.
He said that a joint military anti-terrorist command and staff exercise of the SCO countries, "Peace Mission 2021," was planned for September at the Donguzsky training range in the Orenburg region.
"Similar exercises, but with the participation of the CSTO Collective Forces, will be held in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in the fall. In the future, in order to practice joint reflection of terrorist threats, it is proposed to involve military contingents of the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Force (RRF) and units of friendly countries in the "Peace Mission" exercises," the Russian Defense Minister said.
Earlier, the press service of the Central Military District (CMD) reported that more than 1,500 servicemen of Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will take part in maneuvers at the training ground Harb-Maydon 20 kilometers from Afghanistan, which will be held from August 5 to 10.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS