Over 2,000 soldiers from Kazakhstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Turkey, Britain the United States, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia are holding joint exercises in Kazakhstan. The main theme is on refugee control, patrolling and
security operations. In other words, peacekeeping. Meanwhile, on the Kyrgyz border, Islamic rebels are again attempting to cross the border. Fighting in the area has so far left 32 troops and 90 rebels dead.