DUSHANBE, October 15, 2014, Asia-Plus -- A planned military exercise for servicemen of the Tajik Ground Force is completing in the northern Sughd province today.

“The exercise that is being conducted at the Nourafshon training ground not far from the city of Isfara has involved some 6000 servicemen and more than 50 units of military equipment,” Faridoun Mahmadaliyev, the spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, told Asia-Plus in an interview.

The main purpose of the exercise is reportedly in improving fighting capacity of the country’s ground forces.

The First Deputy Minister of Defense, Zarif Sharizda, who is also Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Tajikistan, is observing the exercise, Mahmadaliyev said.

Created shortly after the Tajik civil war in February 1993, the Ground Force has undergone heavy reforms and buildup.  It is overseen by the Tajik Defense Ministry.