Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have held joint live-fire military exercises in southern Kyrgyzstan.

The Kyrgyz Defense Ministry said Monday the joint exercises are aimed at building military confidence and deterrence against new threats and challenges to regional security.

The joint drills took place in the Buzhum training camp in southern Kyrgyzstan from Friday to Sunday.

Kyrgyz and Tajik troops practiced planning a military operation to track and destroy illegal armed units.

Further joint drills are planned in Tajikistan in August or September and will include troops from Kazakhstan.