DUSHANBE, July 3, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- Faridoun Mahmadaliyev, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense (MoD), announced on July 3 the opening of a large-scale operational and tactical exercise, dubbed Hifz-2012 (Protection 2012), at the Tem training ground on the outskirts of the city of Khorog, the administrative center of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO or Gorno Badakhshan).

According to him, the exercise comprising servicemen from the Khorog garrison, sub-units of the power-wielding structures deployed in Gorno Badakhshan and local law enforcement agencies includes simulated combat maneuvers in mountainous terrain.

The First Deputy Minister of Defense, Lieutenant-General Ramil Nadyrov, who is also Head of the MoD General Staff, is in overall command of the war game that involves infantry units along with armored vehicles and ground-attack aircraft, the spokesman said.  The exercise will last until July 10.