CSTO holds military drills in Tajikistan, close to Afghanistan

The CSTO the drill, from October 11 to 14, included Russian, Kazakh and Kyrgyz forces and aimed to train them in fighting illegal armed groups planning to attack the region

The Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) announced that the organization held military exercises at the Harb Maidon training center in Tajikistan, close to the Afghan border.

According to a statement issued by the CSTO the drill, from October 11 to 14, included Russian, Kazakh and Kyrgyz forces and aimed to train them in fighting illegal armed groups planning to attack the region.

The organization has released a video of its military deployment to Tajikistan, where a convoy of tanks and a variety of military vehicles can be seen.

Regional organizations, including the CSTO countries, have repeatedly expressed concern over the past three years about the risk of extremism spreading from Afghanistan to Central Asia.

Kazakhstan holds the presidency of the CSTO this year and hosted another military exercise from member states earlier this month.

Representatives from more than 40 countries also recently expressed concern over the growing spread of extremism, radical religious teachings and racial discrimination in various countries.

At a meeting in Moscow, they warned that the situation could have catastrophic consequences.