Four more major military drills to take place in CIS this year
CHOLPON-ATA (Kyrgyzstan). Sept 26 (Interfax) - Central Military District Commander Lieut. Gen. Alexander Lapin has announced plans to hold four more major military drills in the CIS before the end of 2018.
"There is a series of major events ahead. These are Search 2018 in Kazakhstan, Boundary 2018 in Tajikistan, and the Air Bridge and Unbreakable Brotherhood drills in Russia. They are intended to demonstrate our unity, combat power, and ability to rapidly deploy a joint group of forces to any part of Central Asia," Lapin said at the end of the Issyk Kul Anti-Terror drill.
The exercise, which ended on Wednesday, was held in furtherance of CIS member states' joint combat training, Lapin said.
"Over the past three years, the intensity of combat training has increased more than four times over. Seventeen joint drills were held, and officers received invaluable experience in planning and engaging joint groups of forces. This is the proper response to the threats and challenges coming from international terrorism, primarily Afghanistan," Lapin said.
The only way to deter radicalized international organizations is to combine efforts and intensify joint training, Lapin said. "Privates and officers have demonstrated their mastery, cohesion, and combat prowess. I am grateful to the command and all the troops who have participated in exercises," he said.
The Issyk Kul Anti-Terror drill was held under the aegis of the CIS Anti-Terrorism Center in accordance with the CIS program of cooperation for the suppression of terrorism and other violent manifestations of extremism in 2017-2019.