Member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization have launched a week of joint military exercises in Tajikistan.
Some 2,000 troops from Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan are participating in the drills, which have been dubbed Peace Mission-2012.
Officials said the exercises will focus on counterterrorism techniques.
The drills, planned to continue until June 14, are being held at the Chorukh-Dairon training ground, some 30 kilometers east of the northern Tajik city of Khujand.
Uzbekistan, the sixth member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, has declined to send any troops to participate in the exercises in Tajikistan.
Shanghai group leaders held a summit of their security pact organization earlier this week in China's capital, Beijing.
Some 2,000 troops from Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan are participating in the drills, which have been dubbed Peace Mission-2012.
Officials said the exercises will focus on counterterrorism techniques.
The drills, planned to continue until June 14, are being held at the Chorukh-Dairon training ground, some 30 kilometers east of the northern Tajik city of Khujand.
Uzbekistan, the sixth member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, has declined to send any troops to participate in the exercises in Tajikistan.
Shanghai group leaders held a summit of their security pact organization earlier this week in China's capital, Beijing.
