DUSHANBE, Tajikistan -- The Uzbek and Tajik militaries will conduct a joint exercise over the coming days.
Starting on September 18, 2018, and lasting until September 22, the Uzbek and Tajik militaries are to conduct joint military training drills in Tajikistan's northern Sughd region. Around 100 Uzbek troops have been sent to Tajikistan to participate in the exercises. They will be jointed by around 500 Tajik soldiers.
A source in the Tajik government, speaking to Asia-Plus, said, "The exercises will work out the issues of cooperation between the armies of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in the fight against the bandit formations of international terrorism." The source further pointed out that the two neighbors have deepened their bilateral relationship -- including in regards to security matters -- since Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev succeeded long-term ruler Islam Karimov around two years ago.
Last month, border troops of the two countries held training exercises in both Khatlon, Tajikistan, and Surxondaryo, Uzbekistan.
The exercises are indicative of growing ties between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, who had suffered strained relations during the presidency of the late Uzbek leader Islam Karimov. Karimov's successor, current president Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has taken a much more conciliatory approach to relations with Uzbekistan's neighbors, aiming to resolve territory disputes with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan while boosting their cooperation in a number of areas.
Both Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are concerned about the potential for violence in neighboring Afghanistan to spill across their shared border. In late August, either Russia or Tajikistan reportedly carried out airstrikes in northern Afghanistan after militants skirmished with Tajik border security forces, resulting in several casualties, underscoring the risk of militant infiltration.
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