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Russian, Tajik troops kick off joint military drills near Afghan border

The 201st military base stationed in Tajikistan is Russia’s largest military facility outside its borders

YEKATERINBURG, April 3. /TASS/. Military contingents from Russia and Tajikistan kicked off joint drills at the Kharb-Maidon training ground in Tajikistan 20 km from the border with Afghanistan that will last through April 7, the press office of Russia’s Central Military District reported on Monday.

"During the practical stages, the military contingents from Russia and Tajikistan will practice preparing and carrying out a joint operation on mountainous terrain to eliminate outlawed armed gangs intruding into the territory of an allied state and also exercising command and control of joint forces in blocking and destroying an illegal armed formation," the press office said in a statement.

The Russian military contingent participating in the drills largely consists of units from the 201st military base numbering over 300 personnel: motor rifle, armored, artillery, radiation, chemical and biological protection troops and mobile electronic warfare groups of the Central Military District, the press office specified.

The 201st military base stationed in Tajikistan is Russia’s largest military facility outside its borders. The military base is stationed in the cities of Dushanbe and Bokhtar. The military base comprises motor rifle, armored, artillery and reconnaissance units, air defense forces, radiation, chemical and biological protection and signal troops.

Under an agreement signed in October 2012, Russia’s military base in Tajikistan will remain until 2042.

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