DUSHANBE, September 24, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The military exercise run by the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Tajikistan is closing today with a final phase at the Lohour training grounds featuring live-fire missions, involving subunits of Tajikistan and the Russian Federation in the CSTO Central Asian group.

According to the Ministry of Defense (MoD), subunits of Russian military base in Tajikistan and the motor rifle company of the Tajik MoD are participating in the exercise.  The exercise scenario is based on groups of international terrorists numbering 300 people breaking through the Tajik border.  The exercise includes simulated combat maneuvers in both mountainous and desert terrain and a special combat operation against the terrorist groups.

We will recall that the exercise for the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces (CRDF) of the Central Asian Region of Collective Security, also known as Central Asian group, was launched in Tajikistan on September 17.  The exercise consists of a staff-and-command drill and practical training.

The Central Asian group was established on May 25, 2001.  It is a component of the current system of collective security, which is based on the regional principle and includes three regional military groups: Russian-Belarus group (Eastern European group); Russian-Armenian group (Caucasian group); and Central Asian group.