Tajikistan held nationwide military exercises Border-2021 involving 230,000 troops ‘to check combat readiness’, the country’s ministry of defence announced on Thursday. In addition to active military personnel, reservists also took part in the drills. More than a thousand soldiers from Afghanistan recently crossed into the country after intensified clashes with the Taliban. The group reportedly seized control of several Afghan border crossings in recent weeks as it’s been making rapid advances following the withdrawal of US and other foreign troops. The Biden administration has announced that all US military forces will have left the country by August 31, ending an almost 20-year deployment. As a consequence, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon announced the mobilisation of 20,000 troops. Russian leader Vladimir Putin expressed his commitment to support the region, including assistance within the framework of the CSTO.