DUSHANBE, August 6, Asia-Plus — The first phase of an antiterror exercise, dubbed The Peace Mission 2007 and conducted by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) started in China’s Urumqi today, Asia-plus has learned at the Ministry of Defense (MoD).

The source at a MoD said that more than 5,000 troops will be involved in this large-scale counterterrorism exercises.  The purpose of the exercise is to rehearse coordination and interaction in neutralizing a large group of terrorists.

The first phase, including holding political consultations and making decision on military actions against terrorist, is held in Urumqi from August 6 to August 11.       

The second phase of the exercise will be held at the Chebarkul training ground in Russia’s Chelyabinsk region from August 11 to August 17.  

The second phase of the Peace Mission 2007 exercise will involve 500 combat vehicles from Russia and China, about 2,000 Russian and 1,600 Chinese personnel, two paratrooper companies (around 100 men each) from Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, and a platoon from Kyrgyzstan.  Uzbekistan will be represented by a group of staff officers.

The exercise will involve practically all SCO members for the first time in its history.  

Established in 2001 as a non-military alliance, the SCO initially set dealing with Islamic extremism and other security threats in Central Asia as its goal, but has since expanded its scope to include cooperation in disaster relief and trade.

The SCO never held a full-scale military exercise involving all its member states, but Russia and China have already held several military joint exercises within the framework of the organization, including the Peace Mission 2005 exercise.

During the second phase, Russia and China will deploy 36 and 46 aircraft, respectively. Both countries will contribute six Il-76 military transports each to perform simulated airborne assaults.