DUSHANBE, March 2, 2016, Asia-Plus – The Ministry of Defense of Tajikistan (MoD) will conduct a large-scale military exercise in Khatlon province from March 15-20.

“The exercise is expected to involve approximately 50,000 people, including soldiers, reservists, local police, and civilian support services,” Faridoun Mahmadaliyev, a spokesman for a MoD, told Asia-Plus in an interview.

According to him, servicemen of the Russian military base deployed in Tajikistan will also participate in the upcoming exercise that will be conducted at the Lohour, Sumbula, Momirak, Harbmaydon, and Halqayor training grounds.

The purpose of the exercise is to rehearse organization of territorial defense, mobilization of reservists as well as coordination and interaction in anti-terror missions, Mahmadaliyev said.