Islam Karimov said: “Our important task is to continue started work on formation of modern, mobile, well equipped armed forces, and ensure system and complex modernization of it.”

He said that the situation in Afghanistan is worsening and drug trafficking, international terrorism and extremism is expending, while situation in neighboring states is instable. He added that are also some other threats and challenges, which requires battle readiness and combativity and strengthening measures on ensuring security and protecting borders. All these require increasing vigilance and readiness to prevent provocations, he added.

In his congratulation, the Uzbek leader determined six important tasks for development of the Armed Forces.

First. Conduct systematic and deep analysis of modern challenges and threats to security in the region, determine trends and possible consequences of their development in short- and long-term perspectives, follow and take into account possible military actions, review old-dated approaches, critically consider readiness of the Military Forces adequately and effectively resisting of any threats to security and stability of the country.

Second. Ensure realization of complex of measures on further increasing efficiency of management and close cooperation of all types and type of armed forces, clear interactions of divisions and subdivisions on strategic, operative and tactical levels, be ready to resist and neutralize any attempts to invade and violating borders of Uzbekistan.

Third. Within implementation of measures on improving interaction of armed forces at all levels, it is important to hold command-staff, operative-tactical, tactical-special drills and training, review all system of individual and group training. Processing of various models and variants of interaction of border forces and divisions of Defence Ministry, air forces and special services, and other forces should be main part of all drills.

Fourth. Modernization, re-equipment of divisions and subdivisions with modern armors, communication and defense means play important role in ensuring mobility, all-sufficient and high military readiness.

Fifth. Important part of reforming Armed Forces is improving system of training and re-training of officers and sergeants, ensuring formation of intellectual, analytically and strategically thinking military personnel, who can correctly plan military actions, wisely manage troops and keep them in good moral=psychological conditions.

Uzbek leader said that education process should be organized based on modern curriculum, reflecting modern trends in military affairs and modern experience on organizing fast operations and military actions. He said that practical exercises should be carried out along with theoretical lessons.

President Islam Karimov said that the Armed Forces of Uzbekistan should use experience of foreign states, as well as NATO countries, in modernizing military education system.

Sixth. Success of reforms in defense construction is directly connected from moral-psychological training of personnel.

Islam Karimov underlined that these tasks are important as only well trained, equipped and socially protected Armed Forces can be reliable guarantee for security, inviolability of borders and integrity of the country.