Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (Photo: EPA/VNA)

Shoigu stressed that the situation in Central Asia remains unstable, citing ongoing armed conflicts between government troops, the Taliban, and IS in Afghanistan. He said Russia's Central Military District is focusing on the implementation of joint actions with the armed forces of Central Asian countries in order to strengthen Russia's position in the region, noting that the Central Asian area is of great strategic importance. Joint combat exercises between Russian, Kyrgyz, Tajik and Uzbek armies have been planned for the second half of this year, he added.