The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states have resolved to reinforce the Russia-led bloc’s southern border with Afghanistan which would even hold military drills in a month. Following a summit in Tajikistan’s capital, Dushanbe, the leaders of the Russian-led CSTO announced the plan to enhance the security cooperation in the region including deployment of troops in Tajik-Afghan border.
Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon, whose country presently holds the CSTO’s rotating presidency, announced the move.
CSTO’s members include Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Belarus and Tajikistan. All leaders along with CSTO’s secretary-general Stanislav Zas and Russian President Vladimir Putin participated in the meeting in Dushanbe. Putin joined through video conference due to being in contact with COVID-19-positive people.
The Eurasian alliance of former Soviet states, according to an official release, discussed the potential security implications for the bloc after the Taliban re-conquered Afghanistan. They also exchanged views on the possibility of getting an influx of Afghan refugees and the underlying humanitarian crisis.
CSTO to accelerate Tajik’s Special Interstate Policy
Zas also informed that CSTO member leaders also reached an agreement to ‘accelerate the adoption of Tajikistan’s Special Interstate Policy on Strengthening the Tajik-Afghan Border, proposed within the CSTO. The Republic of Tajikistan, as you know, has the longest border with Afghanistan – 1,344 km, which in many parts runs in inaccessible mountainous terrain.’
Source: Republic World
