DUSHANBE, 18.10.2021 (NIAT Khovar) – Today, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) begins maneuvers in Tajikistan near its border with Afghanistan. Within the framework of the operational and strategic training Combat Brotherhood — 2021, the collective forces will conduct three trainings with the involvement of 4,000 military personnel and more than 500 equipment.

The same number of personnel will take part in the special trainings Echelon-2021, and Poisk-2021, as well as in the joint training Interaction-2021.

Echelon-2021 trainings will work out the organization of material and technical support during the preparations and the joint operation. Poisk-2021 is aimed at practicing the organization and conduct of reconnaissance in the interests of the operation. Interaction-2021 trainings will work out the issues of conducting a joint operation to localize a border armed conflict associated with attempts to infiltrate the territory of a CSTO member state by fighters of international terrorist organizations.

Military contingents of all six CSTO member states will take part in each of the trainings. The formation of Special Forces and interested ministries and departments are also involved.

Earlier, the head of the CSTO Joint Staff, Colonel-General Anatoly Sidorov said that more than 5,000 people would take part in the trainings Combat Brotherhood — 2021 with the involvement of 700 units of weapons, including more than 650 units of armored vehicles, up to 20 aircrafts, such as the Su-24MR and Su-25, over 20 Mi-8MTV and Mi-24 helicopters, as well as 15 unmanned aerial vehicles.

The CSTO maneuvers Interaction-2021 will be held from October 18 through October 23.

The head of the third department of the CIS, Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Sternik said that joint maneuvers by Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan will be carried out as long as the situation in Afghanistan requires it.