Russia holds military drills in Tajikistan

Russia holds military drills in Tajikistan
Russia holds military drills in Tajikistan

MOSCOW: Russia on Wednesday launched military exercises in Tajikistan as the Taliban mount a blistering offensive in neighbouring Afghanistan. The militants in recent weeks have brought huge swathes of the country under their control as foreign troops withdraw, including Afghanistan´s main Shir Khan Bandar border crossing with Tajikistan. Moscow is closely watching the offensive, concerned about the security of countries in ex-Soviet Central Asia where it maintains military bases. On Wednesday some 1,000 troops based at Russia´s 201st military base in Tajikistan´s capital Dushanbe took part in drills, Russian news agency Interfax reported. The agency cited a statement by Russia´s Central Military District as saying the exercises were meant for unit commanders and combat chiefs to ready for “combat operations in a dynamically changing situation”. Interfax reported that the exercises will run through the end of the week. Russia´s defence ministry said in a statement carried by the news agency that servicemen stationed at the military base had “repelled a massive missile strike by a simulated enemy” during the drills on Wednesday.

Russia holds military drills in Tajikistan
Russia holds military drills in Tajikistan