Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – Security threats emanating from Afghanistan dominated the agenda of the 41st meeting of the Working Group on Afghanistan under the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the bloc announced Monday.
Participants expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, particularly the continued activity of international terrorist groups, including ISIS-K and al-Qaeda-affiliated elements, in the northern provinces near the borders of CSTO member states.
The meeting emphasized the growing risk of extremist infiltration, illegal arms flows, and drug trafficking across Central Asian borders, which could destabilize the wider region. CSTO members discussed the need for enhanced intelligence cooperation, joint military exercises, and reinforced border security mechanisms.
“The regional situation remains unstable, and threats from Afghan territory persist. CSTO countries are committed to defending their southern borders and preventing the spread of terrorism and extremism,” the organization said in a statement.
These concerns echo previous warnings by Russian and Central Asian officials who have repeatedly called for vigilance amid fears that Afghanistan could become a base for launching cross-border militant operations following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
The CSTO includes Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan — the latter sharing a long and porous border with Afghanistan.
