large-scale anti-terrorist exercises in Tajikistan

The anti-terrorist exercises of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Peace Mission-2012 start in Tajikistan Friday, reporters said Friday the spokesman of the Russian Army, Colonel Sergei Vlasov.
He said the exercises will take place in three stages. The first stage took place on Thursday. It was a meeting of heads of staff who have developed guidelines to conduct a terrorist operation and announced the commencement exercises.
"The second step, called Preparing the joint anti-terrorist operation in the mountains, and the third joint anti-terrorist operation, will take place on a polygon located in Sughd northwest of Tajikistan," said the colonel.
He added that the active phase of the exercises would take place on June 14 Russian side, over 350 soldiers, more than 50 vehicles including 15 armored troop carriers BTR-80 armored vehicle and a Tiger will participate in exercises. Moreover, the transaction Peace Mission-2012 will be held with the participation of Russian attack aircraft.
In total, more than 2,000 troops, from SCO members (China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Tajikistan) will participate in exercises Peace Mission-2012 which will expire on June 14