DUSHANBE, April 2, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- A joint anti-terror drill of member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), dubbed “Norak-Antiterror 2009,” will be conducted at the Farkhor training ground in the Khatlon province from April 17-19, Asia-Plus ahs learned from Faridoun Mahmadaliyev, a chief spokesman for the Ministry of Defense (MoD).

According to him, the exercise will be conducted as part of a common plan and in accordance with appropriate decision of the SCO anti-terror center.  “The exercise that will be conducted in two stages will involve operational groups and special units of the armed forces of Tajikistan, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia,” Mahmadaliyev said, noting that the purpose of the exercise is to rehearse coordination and interaction in antiterrorist missions.

The exercise is to involve military personnel along with armored vehicles, artillery and aircraft and representatives of defense and civilian institutions structures from the CIS and other countries will observe the exercise, the spokesman said.