The United States and six Central and South Asian countries have begun ten-day joint military exercises hosted by Tajikistan, according to a statement issued by the US Embassy in Dushanbe on Wednesday.

The exercise, known as Regional Cooperation 22, will take place from August 10 to August 20 and will focus on improving multinational stability and counterterrorism operations, according to a statement.

The drills will be held in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Mongolia, according to the statement.

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Tajikistan and the United States will also conduct a five-day bilateral field training component at the Fakhrabad Training Center as part of the exercise. The exercise will enable forces to coordinate, synchronize, and react to events in a safe environment.

The exercise is intended to enhance regional security and stability; increase national capabilities and commitment to interdict weapons of mass destruction, terrorist elements, and narcotics; and help develop regional defense forces in international peace operations and information sharing.

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"As the largest US military-to-military exercise involving Central and South Asian nations, Regional Cooperation 22 is an unparalleled opportunity to strengthen relationships with our partners in that region," US Ambassador to Tajikistan John Pommersheim said in the statement.

The Ambassador claimed that the exercise will serve as a forum for discussing regional issues, such as information exchange, security cooperation, and peaceful conflict resolution.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Regional Cooperation exercise had been held annually in one of the participating countries since 2004, according to the statement. However, the exercise was held in the United States last year at Fort Harrison in the US state of Montana.