TAJIKISTAN: Thousands of military personnel of the countries of Shanghai Cooperation Agreement, including Russia and China, take part in joint military drill in the north of Tajikistan.

Record ID: 872785

  • Title: TAJIKISTAN: Thousands of military personnel of the countries of Shanghai Cooperation Agreement, including Russia and China, take part in joint military drill in the north of Tajikistan.
  • Date: 15th June 2012
  • Summary: OFFICERS ON GUARD NEAR FLAGS OF SCO COUNTRIES MILITARY MARCHING AT OFFICIAL OPENING OF 'PEACE MISSION - 2012' MILITARY DRILL ORCHESTRA PLAYING
  • Embargoed: 30th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Tajikistan
  • City:
  • Country: Tajikistan
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAA263SUJEQLWTGXVNDHOVG5GLK
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Russia, China, Tajikistan and other countries-members of Shanghai Cooperation Agreement held joint anti-terrorist military manoeuvres in northern Tajikistan, amid growing concerns over security in the area.
    Over two thousand troops, 500 military vehicles including air jets and helicopters trained in storming buildings and fighting against illegal armed groups in the mountains at Tajik Chorukh-Dairon training ground some 30 kilometres east of the northern Tajik city of Khujand.
    Uzbekistan was the only SCO country which refused to take part in the drill dubbed 'Peace Mission 2012' together with Russian, Chinese, Tajik, Kazakh and Kyrgyz troops.
    Russian representative of the General Staff of the country's Armed Forces said the drill was a good opportunity for the SCO countries to share experience.
    "We have a wonderful opportunity to exchange the experience of military training. Each of us have many years of experience, and we can share it now without any restrictions," Colonel-General Alexander Postnikov, Deputy Head of General Staff of Russia's Armed Forces said at a news conference at the beginning of the drill.
    The leaders of SCO countries held an annual summit in Beijing earlier in June to discuss security pact amid fears of instability spreading across the region from Afghanistan as most foreign combat troops are expected to leave the country by the end of 2014.
    The SCO, founded in 2001, includes China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Iran, India, Pakistan and others attend the summits, but not as full members.
    In theory, the SCO could be a force for cooperation and cohesion. In practice, however, the disparate and sometimes distrustful members have had trouble drawing together.
    The countries, however, are reuniting their efforts concerned with regional security against the background of the Arab Spring, as well as the uncertainties about Afghanistan after 2014.
    China, Russia and central Asian governments have been wary of anti-government movements across the Arab world inspiring similar challenges against them and their partners.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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