What is the significance of these three countries’ exercises on the side of Afghanistan?
2021-08-06 08:23:09Source: Xi’an Evening News
Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan held a joint military exercise in Khatlon Oblast, which is adjacent to the border with Afghanistan, in Tajikistan from the 5th to the 10th. The Russian Central Military District said that the military exercise will involve 2,500 people and 500 military equipment. The main exercise will be to jointly combat cross-border illegal armed forces, and adapt to mountains and hot environments.
Analysts pointed out that the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in an irresponsible manner has caused the security situation in Afghanistan to continue to deteriorate. The three countries of Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan hope to strengthen military exchanges and cooperation through this joint military exercise to respond to potential security threats in border areas and maintain Central Asia. Strategically stable.
Planning a joint military exercise
According to Russian media reports, about 1,800 Russian officers and soldiers will participate in the joint military exercise, mainly from the Russian military base at Tower 201, covering mountain motorized infantry, tank units, artillery units, special forces, three defense forces and electronic warfare. Troops and so on. In addition, 17 BMP-2M infantry fighting vehicles and several Mi-24 armed helicopters, Mi-8 helicopters, Su-25 fighter jets and other aircraft will participate in the exercise.
The Ministry of National Defense of Uzbekistan said on the 2nd that the country will send about 200 soldiers and more than 20 sets of military equipment to participate in the joint military exercise. Uzbekistan troops will depart from the Termez military base in Surhan River State, which borders Afghanistan in the south of the country, and will march about 200 kilometers before arriving at the designated exercise area.
Prior to this, there have been some military operations in Ta and Uzbekistan on the border with Afghanistan. On July 22, under the “Border-2021” combat readiness inspection framework, Tajikistan mobilized all the country’s military and powerful departments into combat readiness for the first time, with a total of 230,000 people participating. From 2 to 8 of this month, Uzbekistan and Russia held a “Southern-2021” joint military exercise at the Termez military base to improve the military cooperation system between the two countries and exchange experience on security issues.
Dealing with “security black holes”
Analysts pointed out that the recent series of military actions by Central Asian countries are closely related to the huge regional “security black hole” left by the hurried withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.
U.S. President Biden announced in April this year that the U.S. troops in Afghanistan will be withdrawn completely before September 11, and in early July he moved the end of the evacuation to August 31. As the United States and NATO accelerate their withdrawal from Afghanistan, the fighting between the Taliban and the Afghan government forces has become increasingly fierce, and the local security situation has continued to deteriorate. Over the past few months, the Taliban have launched offensives in various places and seized a large number of territories. It is reported that the Taliban controls half of about 400 areas in Afghanistan and has approached many important provincial capitals.
Kabul, the capital with a relatively good security situation, is not immune. The Afghan Acting Minister of Defense Bismila Mohammedi’s residence in Kabul suffered a car bomb explosion and an armed attack on the 3rd. The Taliban claimed to have caused the incident.
The deterioration of the security situation in Afghanistan has also begun to show some spillover effects. Conflicts between the Taliban and the Afghan government forces started in some border areas. The Taliban even seized some border crossings. In July, hundreds of Afghan government soldiers crossed the border into Tajikistan to escape Taliban attacks. In addition, neighboring countries are also worried that the conflict in Afghanistan may trigger an influx of refugees into their country.
Russian Defense Minister Shoigu said earlier that the hurried withdrawal of the United States and NATO forces from Afghanistan has caused many problems to emerge. It is against this background that the joint military exercises between Russia, Tay and Uzbekistan are being held. The Uzbek Ministry of National Defense also pointed out that the joint military exercise is aimed at countering external threats.
Maintain strategic stability
In addition to avoiding the spillover effects of the conflict in Afghanistan, the recent joint military exercises between Russia and Central Asian countries are also considered to be a warning to the United States.
Although the United States wants to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan, it is not prepared to leave the region completely. Kenneth McKenzie, commander of the US Central Command, previously stated that the US is considering relocating some of the US troops in Afghanistan to countries around Afghanistan in order to continue to attack “base” and “Islamic State” and other extremist organizations. The Wall Street Journal previously reported that the United States sought to establish military bases in Central Asia and the Middle East after its withdrawal from Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan and Tajikistan were the most valued.
Analysts believe that the joint military exercises between Russia and Uzbekistan to strengthen military cooperation also show the United States its ability to respond to regional security threats and warn the United States not to take advantage of it. Uzbek Presidential Press Secretary Sherzod Assadov previously stated publicly that according to the country’s laws, Uzbekistan does not participate in any military or political bloc, nor does it allow any foreign country to deploy military bases and facilities on its territory.
At the same time, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are not prepared to intervene in the conflict in Afghanistan. Assadov said that Uzbekistan will continue to maintain good-neighborly and friendly relations with Afghanistan and adhere to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan. Russian military expert Mikhail Khodalenok said that this military exercise will help improve the overall combat capabilities of relevant countries. Russia does not want to be involved in another war in Afghanistan. The Russian side calls on the Kabul authorities and the Taliban as soon as possible. Start negotiations to create conditions for the restoration of normal national order.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Nuer Sultan, August 5th
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