Russia, Tajikistan holding 4-day anti-Taliban drills near Afghan border

Russia and Tajikistan on Tuesday began joint military exercises near the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border to prepare to ward off potential Taliban attacks.

Russia and Tajikistan on Tuesday began joint military exercises near the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border to prepare to ward off potential Taliban attacks.
More than 10,000 troops, mostly Tajik reservists, will take part in the first such drills in the area by the ex-Soviet allies, Tajikistan’s defence ministry said.
Combined forces will practice “eliminating terrorists who broke through” from Afghanistan in an imagined incursion, it added.
Some 400 soldiers and 80 pieces of Russian military equipment were deployed from a military base in Tajikistan for exercises due to last until Friday, the Russian army said. France-24 reported.
The drills will take place just over the border from the Afghan province of Badakhshan.
Russia has repeatedly expressed concerns over the activities of terror groups in northern Afghanistan. However, this is not the first time that Russia and Tajikistan holds military drills near the Afghanistan border.
Russia has taken the control of Tajik borders and cooperates with Tajik defence forces.