DUSHANBE, September 26, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- A joint military exercise for subunits of the armed forces of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan as well as special police unit of Tajikistan was launched in the Tajik eastern Jirgatol district, Rasht Valley today, Faridoun Mahmadaliyev, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense (MoD) of Tajikistan, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, the exercise scenario is based on surrounding a group of international terrorists in one of mountain gorges in Jirgatol on the Tajik-Kyrgyz border.  Another large group of international terrorists attempts to  penetrate into Tajikistan from neighboring country to help the surrounded terrorists.  Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan launch a joint operation to annihilate the terrorists.

The exercise that has involved servicemen of the mobile, and land border forces of the Tajik MoD and special police unit of the Interior Ministry’s office for Rasht Valley as well as special units of Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Defense along with armored vehicles and combat helicopters will close on September 27 with a final phase featuring live-fire missions.

Defense ministers of both countries are expected to observe the final phase of the antiterrorist exercise in Jirgatol, the spokesman said.