CSTO is ending operation to airlift troops to area of Tajik-Afghan border

DUSHANBE, May 14. /TASS/. The joint command of the Collective Security Treaty Organization’s rapid reaction force is completing the operation to airlift troops and equipment to the area of a large-scale exercise on the Tajik-Afghan border, the Tajik Defence Ministry told TASS. The exercises are being held against a worsening of the situation in Afghanistan’s northern provinces bordering on Tajikistan. "CSTO rapid reaction force, put on combat alert on May 12, are about to complete the redeployment of part of its units, weapons and equipment from the permanent locations to the areas of operative deployment in Tajikistan," Tajik Defence Ministry spokesman Faridun Makhmadalilyev said. Over the past 24 hours alone 24 military transport planes of three CSTO member-states (Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan) have landed at airdromes in Tajikistan. Later on Thursday another flight is expected from Armenia. Tajik and Kyrgyz troops have begun a march across mountain passes to the target area. The redeployment of the CSTO rapid reaction force will be completed on May 15, the Tajik Defence Ministry’s official said. "A group of CSTO Allied Staff officers under the chief of staff, Lieutenant-General Aleksandr Studenikin, is already in the area of deployment," Makhmadaliyev. The main purpose of the combat readiness check is "perfection of unified operation of CSTO member-counties’ military control agencies." Read more