ISTANBUL

Russia and Tajikistan on Monday commenced a four-day joint military exercise which will end on April 18.

A statement by the Russian Defense Ministry said the opening ceremony of the exercise took place at the Kharb-Maydon training ground in Tajikistan’s southwestern Khatlon region bordering Afghanistan.

The statement said the military contingents of the two countries will practice organizing the use of their armed forces to destroy “terrorist gangs,” preparing units to carry out tasks in mountainous terrain, as well as controlling units while covering the state border and eliminating “illegal armed formations” that have broken through the border.

“The Russian military contingent is based on units of the 201st Russian military base of the Central Military District,” the statement added.​​​​​​​