Russians carry out drills in Tajikistan

Russia on Wednesday carried out military exercises in Tajikistan as the Taliban militant group continued its military operations in neighboring Afghanistan.

About 1,000 troops from Russia's 201st military base in Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe took part in the drills, Russia's Interfax news agency reported.

The Taliban in recent weeks have brought huge swathes of Afghanistan under their control, including the main Shir Khan Bandar border crossing with Tajikistan, as foreign troops withdrew.

According to Interfax, Moscow is closely watching the situation in Afghanistan, concerned about the security of Central Asian countries that had been part of the Soviet Union. Russia maintains bases in a number of these countries.

The agency cited a statement by Russia's Central Military District that the exercises were meant for unit commanders and combat chiefs to get ready for "combat operations in a dynamically changing situation".

The statement said the exercises will run until the end of the week.

Russia's defense ministry said in a statement that servicemen stationed at the military base had "repelled a massive missile strike by a simulated enemy" during the drills on Wednesday.

The 201st base is one of Russia's most important foreign bases and is tasked with helping maintain stability in Central Asia and providing support for Tajik troops.

Set up in 2005 and made up of three separate installations, the base houses about 5,500 troops.

In 2012, Tajikistan gave Russia an extension on the base through 2042 so that it could help police its border with Afghanistan.

Deep concern

Foreign ministers of countries in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on Wednesday met in Dushanbe, where they issued a joint statement expressing their "deep concern over the growing tension in the northern provinces of Afghanistan".

The Kremlin envoy on Afghanistan said in an interview published on Wednesday that Moscow expects the Taliban to fulfill their pledge not to threaten Russia or its allies in Central Asia.

Zamir Kabulov, who met with a Taliban delegation that visited Moscow last week, voiced confidence that the Taliban would focus on securing their gains in Afghanistan and wouldn't try to challenge the countries of the region.

"They visited Moscow to offer guarantees on behalf of the Taliban's supreme leadership that the territory of Afghanistan will not be used against the interests of third countries," said Kabulov in an interview with the state-owned RIA-Novosti news agency. He said he had earlier received similar assurances from Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the co-founder of the Taliban.

The Taliban claimed last week that it now controls 85 percent of Afghanistan's territory after making quick gains amid the withdrawal of United States troops that is set to wrap up on Aug 31.