The Shanghai Security Organization (SCO) will begin the Peace Mission-2010 anti-terror exercise on Friday in Kazakhstan, but one of the members, Uzbekistan, which was the last to join the organization in 2001 will skip the event, Itar-Tass reported.
"Uzbekistan will not participate in the exercise in any quality. Neither Uzbek military leaders nor troops have arrived in Kazakhstan although an invitation has been sent to the Uzbek side," Russian Ground Forces spokesman Oleg Yushkov told Tass.
The three-stage exercise at the Matybulak range in Kazakhstan will engage over 5000 troops and 500 hardware from Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kirgizia, and Tajikistan. Russia sent over a thousand men and 130 armor, as well as 10 aircraft and helicopters deployed at its Kant base in Kirgizia. China and Kazakhstan are represented by a similar force, while Kirgizia and Tajikistan dispatched smaller units.
The active phase of the exercise will begin on September 24 and will train preparations and conduct of a joint anti-terrorist operation.