DUSHANBE, May 26, 2011, Asia-Plus -- A joint drill for servicemen of the Tajik national army and representatives of the French armed forces is going on at the Fakhrobod training ground in Tajikistan.

Faridoun Mahmadaliyev, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense (MoD), says the exercise that was launched on May 25 will last until June 11.  “The exercise, involving servicemen of the Mobile Forces of the Tajik Army and the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade of the French Army, is being conducted at the Fakhrobod training ground and in the village of Yos, Romit Gorge,” he said.  

The purpose of the exercise is to rehearse coordination and interaction in combat missions in mountains, the spokesman said.

According to Wikipedia, the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade is a mountain infantry formation of the French Army.  It is heir to the traditions of the 27th Alpine Division.  Disbanded after 1945, it was reformed in 1976 as a division, but with the end of conscription, all of the French Army''s divisions were disbanded and the 27th became a brigade in 1996.