DUSHANBE, March 15, 2016, Asia-Plus – Tajik Defense Minister, Lieutenant-General Sherali Mirzo, on March 14 held a meeting with Russian Central Military District Commander, Colonel-General Vladimir Zarudnitskiy, at the Ayni airfield to discuss the use of a joint air group in the ongoing joint military exercise, according to the Russian Central Military District press center.

Mirzo and Zarudnitskiy reportedly noted that aviation played a decisive role in the fight against illegal armed formations in mountains.

The joint air group reportedly includes supersonic, variable-sweep wing, long-range strategic and maritime strike bombers Tu-22M3, strategic bombers Tu-95MS, jet aircraft Su-25, combat helicopters Mi-24 and transport helicopters Mi-8.

Russian pilots have practiced exchange of data with management points of the Central Military District set up in the Hisor district, the Central Military District press center said on March 15.  

The Central Military District is one of Russia''s Military Districts.  The district was formed in president’s decree №1144 signed on September 20, 2010.  The district includes the territories of the former Siberian Military District.

In June 2015, U.S. expert Leslie H. Gelb wrote that the role of the Central Military District is to “orchestrate Russian engagement in local conflicts within Central Asia, to manage Russia’s bases in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, and to supply reinforcements from its two armies either to the east or the west in the event of war” and that their purpose is to “forestall instability that might spill over into Russia and to remind everyone that Russia’s forces in the region are mightier than China’s.”