Nearly 200 Kazakh soldiers arrived in Chelyabinsk Sunday to participate in a joint military exercise dubbed "Peace Mission 2007."
Almaz Abdulymanov, vice chairman of the Kazakh Committee of the Chief of Staff, told the media that as decided at the fourth defense ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Bishkek in June, Kazakhstan sent an increased number of troops to the anti-terrorism drill than previously planned, including an airborne commando company.
He said the Kazakh troops are expected to join the first joint exercise with soldiers from other countries on Aug. 6.
The joint exercise involves six SCO members -- China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
It will be a high-level exercise, and will help SCO members reinforce coordination and cooperation in fighting terrorism, extremism and separatism, Abdulymanov said.
Apart from China and Russia, Kazakhstan is the first SCO member to sent troops to the Russian military base.
Some of the 1,600 Chinese troops that arrived here on Friday for the drill have started their training program in the Chebarkul range.
About 6,500 troops and 80 aircraft are expected to take part in the Aug. 9-17 drills, including 2,000 troops and 36 aircraft from Russia.
Source: Xinhua
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