Joint military exercises of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will be held in 2010 in southern Kazakhstan, news agency RIA Novosti reports on its Web site Wednesday, citing the Russian defense minister.
"Specific anti-terror activities will be practiced at drills in Kazakhstan. All previous and upcoming military exercises involving SCO countries are of a counterterrorism nature," Anatoly Serdyukov is quoted as saying after a session of SCO defense ministers.
The SCO regional security group comprises Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Russia took over the presidency of the organization last August.
Iran, India, Mongolia and Pakistan have observer status.