MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Peace Mission exercises are held for the fourth time, but for the first time in Kyrgyzstan. The active phase of the drills involving Chinese, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Russian and Tajik troops will run through September 21.
"Within the framework of Peace Mission-2016 anti-terror drills of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states, a couple of Tu-95MC strategic turboprop missile-carrying bombers will practice an information exchange with the command posts of the CMD, deployed in the areas of the Kyrgyz Republic, where the drills are held," Yaroslav Roshchupkin told reporters.
He added that the aircraft would fly from Engels Airbase in Russia's Saratov Region.
The SCO is a political, economic and military alliance that includes China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan will become full-fledged members of the organization at the 2017 SCO summit in Kazakhstan.
