Uzbekistan's military might
Uzbek 'Narodnoye Slovo' newspaper
September 25At the ninth session of the Uzbek parliament, President Islam Karimov noted that creation of a small and mobile army capable of defending inviolability of the border, the republic's territorial integrity, and serene life of the nation, armed with most up-to-date weapons and military vehicles, which meet the requirements of the time, is the most important task on the path of creating Uzbekistan's great future.
In fact, creation of a professional army, the main goal of which is to protect peace and improve the defensive potential, is a requirement of the time. Uzbekistan has been moving in this direction for several years. It would be interesting to point out some achievements. Firstly, Uzbekistan has managed to get rid of red tape in the control system, as a result of which the efficiency of military activities has increased. Secondly, the republic has created territorial military districts in the most important sectors. Creation of such districts has made it possible to unite uncoordinated forces.
Thirdly, the republic has created operational groups, platoons, battalions, and brigades capable of operation in any situation. All command-staff exercises are aimed at studying issues of cooperation between military units and various control bodies.
Fourthly, Uzbekistan has created a principally new control body in Central Asia and the CIS - the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces. The tasks of this Staff and the Defense Ministry have been determined. Successful combat operations by various security structures against extremist groups, which infiltrated into the Surkhandarya and Tashkent regions, have proven the correctness of such approach.
Fifthly, military reform in Uzbekistan is aimed at protecting peace and stability in the region. The reform is based on the principle of care about people and improvement of the prestige of military service. The fact that a civilian heads the defense Ministry shows that Uzbekistan has established a civil supervision over the Armed Forces and other security structures.
It should be noted that the program of military reforms was designed after analyzing the military-political situation in the region and the world and all possible threats. Authoritative international experts note that many nations monitor the progress of military reform in Uzbekistan. There are some nations such as Kazakhstan, which follow Uzbekistan's example.
Changes in the Kazakh Army started in November 1997. However, the republic did not intend to create military districts and operational groups. On the contrary, the republic intended to create an army consisting of three branches (the General Purpose Force, the Anti-Aircraft Force, and the Border Guard Force). To date, Uzbekistan's neighbor has given up this path and decided to take the Uzbek Army for a model.
Kazakhstan preferred to carry out a new strategy in 2000. As a matter of fact, it was close to a strategy realized in Uzbekistan. In particular, Kazakhstan has decided to create military-territorial structures (i.e. military districts) like in Uzbekistan.
The analysis of the political situation in the world shows that Uzbekistan does not need an army consisting of big divisions. Times have changed, as well as threats to the republic's national security. The republic has faced a very dangerous evil - terrorism. A combat against this evil will never succeed without up-to-date weapons, mobility, and special knowledge. This is why the Uzbek Army is armed with most up-to-date systems: night vision devices, equipment for fighting in the mountains, and more.
Thanks to the reform, military service has become prestigious in the republic. The most important indication is that young men join the army deliberately, not because this is their constitutional duty.
The structure of armies created by developed countries shows that the military focuses attention on training junior commanders (sergeants). The Uzbek Army is moving in this direction too. At present, junior commanders study English and computer sciences in addition to usual military subjects. The school of sergeants of the Southwestern military command is a graphic example. In other words, Uzbekistan has managed to create a new model of a professional army.