RASC News Agency: The foreign ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states have expressed profound concern regarding the escalating activities of terrorist organizations and the security threats emanating from Afghanistan. In a statement issued on Sunday, December 1st, the ministers emphasized that terrorist groups operating within Afghanistan pose one of the gravest threats to the security of Central Asian nations. The statement from the foreign ministers reads: “We underscore that terrorist groups based in Afghanistan represent a severe threat to the security of CSTO member states.”
The ministers also stressed the need for the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan, one that truly represents all of the country’s ethnic groups. Additionally, the statement called for the restoration of fundamental rights for Afghanistani women and girls, including access to education and employment. Notably, the CSTO summit was held last week in Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital, where Russian President Vladimir Putin was joined by his counterparts from Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.
On the sidelines of the summit, President Putin described the situation in Afghanistan as “complex” and reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to continued engagement with the Taliban. This statement comes amid growing concerns over security threats and the smuggling of weapons and narcotics from Afghanistan, which have increasingly alarmed Central Asian nations. It is worth noting that dozens of terrorist organizations, under Taliban control, are operating in Afghanistan and are supported politically and financially, with many of these groups originating from Central Asia.
