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Russia Wraps Up Drills With Uzbek And Tajik Troops Near Afghan Border

Russian, Tajik, and Uzbek troops conduct join military exercises in Tajikistan near the border with Afghanistan.
Russian, Tajik, and Uzbek troops conduct join military exercises in Tajikistan near the border with Afghanistan.

Russia completed joint military exercises with troops from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on August 10 as the Taliban gains control of much of northern Afghanistan bordering Moscow’s Central Asian allies.

The war games began last week, involving about 2,500 Russian, Tajik, and Uzbek troops at a training ground in Tajikistan about 20 kilometers from the Afghan border.

“The exercise was conducted against the background of the aggravation of the situation and the threat of penetration of radical terrorist groups into the border countries of the Central Asian region,” Russia’s Central Military District commander, Colonel General Alexander Lapin, said.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said the drills involved tanks, armored personnel carriers, Su-25 attack jets, helicopters, and other weaponry in a simulated joint response to cross-border militant attacks.

Russian, Tajik, And Uzbek Troops Wrap Up Drills Near Afghan Border

A military helicopter flies during the joint Russian, Tajik, and Uzbek drills at Tajikistan's Harb-Maidon firing range on August 10.
1/17 A military helicopter flies during the joint Russian, Tajik, and Uzbek drills at Tajikistan's Harb-Maidon firing range on August 10.
Russia completed joint military exercises with troops from Uzbekistan and host Tajikistan on August 10 as the Taliban gained control of much of northern Afghanistan, which borders both of those Moscow allies.
Tanks and troops mass at the Harb-Maidon training ground. The Russian (left to right), Tajik, and Uzbek flags are on display.
2/17 Tanks and troops mass at the Harb-Maidon training ground. The Russian (left to right), Tajik, and Uzbek flags are on display.
Russia completed joint military exercises with troops from Uzbekistan and host Tajikistan on August 10 as the Taliban gained control of much of northern Afghanistan, which borders both of those Moscow allies.
Uzbek troops at the exercises with their counterparts from Russia and Tajikistan.
3/17 Uzbek troops at the exercises with their counterparts from Russia and Tajikistan.
Russia completed joint military exercises with troops from Uzbekistan and host Tajikistan on August 10 as the Taliban gained control of much of northern Afghanistan, which borders both of those Moscow allies.
Tanks from Tajikistan on the move during the drills.<br /> &nbsp;
4/17 Tanks from Tajikistan on the move during the drills.
 
Russia completed joint military exercises with troops from Uzbekistan and host Tajikistan on August 10 as the Taliban gained control of much of northern Afghanistan, which borders both of those Moscow allies.
Soldiers from Tajikistan march during the drills.&nbsp;
5/17 Soldiers from Tajikistan march during the drills. 
Russia completed joint military exercises with troops from Uzbekistan and host Tajikistan on August 10 as the Taliban gained control of much of northern Afghanistan, which borders both of those Moscow allies.
Russian Mi-24 helicopter gunships take part in the exercises.&nbsp;
6/17 Russian Mi-24 helicopter gunships take part in the exercises. 
Russia completed joint military exercises with troops from Uzbekistan and host Tajikistan on August 10 as the Taliban gained control of much of northern Afghanistan, which borders both of those Moscow allies.
An estimated 2,500 servicemen (including 1,800 Russian servicemen, as seen here) with around 500 pieces of military hardware took part in the exercises, which ran from August 5 to August 10.&nbsp;
7/17 An estimated 2,500 servicemen (including 1,800 Russian servicemen, as seen here) with around 500 pieces of military hardware took part in the exercises, which ran from August 5 to August 10. 
Russia completed joint military exercises with troops from Uzbekistan and host Tajikistan on August 10 as the Taliban gained control of much of northern Afghanistan, which borders both of those Moscow allies.
A Russian soldier aims his rifle.&nbsp;
8/17 A Russian soldier aims his rifle. 
Russia completed joint military exercises with troops from Uzbekistan and host Tajikistan on August 10 as the Taliban gained control of much of northern Afghanistan, which borders both of those Moscow allies.
Tajik military hardware in use.&nbsp;
9/17 Tajik military hardware in use. 
Russia completed joint military exercises with troops from Uzbekistan and host Tajikistan on August 10 as the Taliban gained control of much of northern Afghanistan, which borders both of those Moscow allies.
Russian soldiers and hardware.
10/17 Russian soldiers and hardware.
Russia completed joint military exercises with troops from Uzbekistan and host Tajikistan on August 10 as the Taliban gained control of much of northern Afghanistan, which borders both of those Moscow allies.
Tajik Defense Minister Sherali Mirzo (center) and Aleksandr Lapin (second right), commander of Russia&#39;s Central Military District, observe the joint exercises.
11/17 Tajik Defense Minister Sherali Mirzo (center) and Aleksandr Lapin (second right), commander of Russia's Central Military District, observe the joint exercises.
Russia completed joint military exercises with troops from Uzbekistan and host Tajikistan on August 10 as the Taliban gained control of much of northern Afghanistan, which borders both of those Moscow allies.
A traditional dance group performs for the troops.&nbsp;
12/17 A traditional dance group performs for the troops. 
Russia completed joint military exercises with troops from Uzbekistan and host Tajikistan on August 10 as the Taliban gained control of much of northern Afghanistan, which borders both of those Moscow allies.
Soldiers march in face masks.
13/17 Soldiers march in face masks.
Russia completed joint military exercises with troops from Uzbekistan and host Tajikistan on August 10 as the Taliban gained control of much of northern Afghanistan, which borders both of those Moscow allies.
14/17
Russia completed joint military exercises with troops from Uzbekistan and host Tajikistan on August 10 as the Taliban gained control of much of northern Afghanistan, which borders both of those Moscow allies.
Uzbek armored personnel carriers on the move during the drills.
15/17 Uzbek armored personnel carriers on the move during the drills.
Russia completed joint military exercises with troops from Uzbekistan and host Tajikistan on August 10 as the Taliban gained control of much of northern Afghanistan, which borders both of those Moscow allies.
Soldiers raise the flags of Tajikistan (left) and Russia on August 10.
16/17 Soldiers raise the flags of Tajikistan (left) and Russia on August 10.
Russia completed joint military exercises with troops from Uzbekistan and host Tajikistan on August 10 as the Taliban gained control of much of northern Afghanistan, which borders both of those Moscow allies.
Across the border from the Tajik exercise grounds, Taliban militants have captured huge swaths of Afghanistan since U.S.-led international troops began their formal withdrawal in May from a 19-year war, leaving most of the responsibility for defending the country to Afghan national troops.&nbsp;
17/17 Across the border from the Tajik exercise grounds, Taliban militants have captured huge swaths of Afghanistan since U.S.-led international troops began their formal withdrawal in May from a 19-year war, leaving most of the responsibility for defending the country to Afghan national troops. 
Russia completed joint military exercises with troops from Uzbekistan and host Tajikistan on August 10 as the Taliban gained control of much of northern Afghanistan, which borders both of those Moscow allies.
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Lapin said the combined forces for the first time used tactics gained by Russian forces fighting in Syria.

Russia, which has a military base in Tajikistan, has vowed to defend the former Soviet Central Asian states against any security threat from Afghanistan.

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan are members of the Moscow-dominated Collective Security Treaty Organization.

The exercises followed smaller Russian-Uzbek drills held near Uzbekistan's border with Afghanistan that concluded last week.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a separate event on August 10 that Russian forces will continue to conduct regular drills with its Central Asian allies near the Afghan border.

Central Asians states bordering Afghanistan are concerned about security threats emanating from Afghanistan and the potential for tens of thousands of refugees to pour over the border.

The Taliban has sought to reassure neighboring countries and Russia that it poses no threat as it gains control over much of Afghanistan’s territory and captures provincial cities from the government in Kabul as U.S.-led forces leave the country.

With reporting by TASS
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