Russia, Uzbekistan Launch Joint Military Drills Near Afghanistan Border

DID Press: Russian and Uzbek forces have begun a seven-day joint military exercise near Afghanistan’s northern border, focusing on operations to detect and neutralise illegal armed groups in border areas, according to regional media reports.

The exercise, named Hamkorlik-2026 (Cooperation-2026), is scheduled to run from October 20 to 27 at the Termez military training ground in Uzbekistan’s Surkhandarya region, near the Afghan border.

The drills involve mountain and assault units, reconnaissance and strike drones, ground-based robotic systems and Mi-24 attack helicopters. Russian troops reportedly travelled more than 300 km through mountainous areas of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan before arriving at the training site.

The stated aim is to improve coordination between the two countries’ forces in detecting and neutralising simulated armed groups and strengthening their readiness to respond to potential cross-border security threats.

The exercise comes amid continued regional concerns over security and the possibility of militant activity spreading across borders from Afghanistan. However, the reported drills are training exercises; their timing and location do not by themselves establish that a specific threat has emerged from Afghanistan.