Moscow (GNP): The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has warned that terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan pose a growing security threat to Central Asia. The Russia-led alliance also pointed to rising drug trafficking, extremist infiltration and the risk of regional conflict.
The warning came on Tuesday at a joint meeting of foreign and defense ministers and security council secretaries in Moscow. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov chaired the session.
The security situation in Afghanistan and neighboring regions featured prominently in the talks. Member states voiced concern that groups such as Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) could threaten Central Asian countries.
Officials also discussed ways to counter cybercrime, irregular migration, drug trafficking and extremist infiltration, which they linked to the same regional security picture.
To address these risks, participants prepared documents aimed at expanding the alliance’s military capabilities, according to Russia’s Foreign Ministry. These include joint air forces, air defense systems and biological security measures. The documents will go to the Collective Security Council for final approval.
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Border security emerged as a central concern. Tajikistan shares a border of more than 1,300km with Afghanistan, much of it running through mountainous terrain along the Panj River.
The CSTO has therefore launched a five-year intergovernmental program to reinforce that frontier. Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan are among the members expected to provide Tajikistan with weapons, military equipment and technical border surveillance systems by the end of 2026.
The initiative aims to stop terrorist infiltration, drug trafficking and other security threats originating in Afghanistan from spreading into Central Asia.
Tajikistan is scheduled to host the next meeting of CSTO foreign ministers in the first half of 2027.
Managing Editor at Global News Pakistan (GNP), with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Riphah International University, graduated with a Gold Medal. Reach out at sabahtareengnp@gmail.com
