KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military alliance of six Eurasian countries, has once again expressed its concern about the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, calling it a “serious threat” to the security of its member states.
As reported by the Russian TASS news agency, CSTO foreign ministers, in a joint statement on Thursday following the CSTO summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, called on the Taliban authorities to direct their efforts toward combating terrorism and drug trafficking.
“We are seriously concerned about the situation in the security sphere in the context of the terrorist threat in Afghanistan, noting that Afghanistan-based terrorist groups are a serious threat to the security of CSTO member states,” they said.
“We are concerned about the current drug problem in Afghanistan despite measures taken by local authorities. We emphasize the importance of continued coordinated efforts to fight the spread of drug trafficking to other countries,” they added.
According to the report, senior CSTO diplomats emphasized the importance of establishing an inclusive political structure in Afghanistan that represents the interests of all social and ethnic groups. They also highlighted the need for Afghanistan to fulfill its obligations in safeguarding human rights, including those of women and girls.
Formed in 2002, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is an intergovernmental military alliance within the Eurasian region. Its membership comprises six post-Soviet states, namely Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan.
The Taliban’s takeover of power in Afghanistan has raised security concerns among its neighboring countries, including CSTO member states. These concerns are driven by the resurgence of terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda, ISKP, Tahrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Jamaat Ansarullah, which pose a significant threat to regional stability.
In recent years, CSTO officials and member states have consistently voiced concerns over the expanding presence and capabilities of international terrorist groups in Afghanistan, particularly in the northern regions.
They have repeatedly called on the Taliban to step up counterterrorism measures, eradicate terrorism in the country, and prevent Afghanistan from becoming a hotbed of international terrorist groups.
The regime in Kabul, however, has consistently denied the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan. The Taliban claims to have suppressed ISKP and asserts that Afghanistan poses no threat to any neighboring country. They further argue that neighboring countries should address their own security challenges, as the Taliban is not responsible for the security failures of its neighbors.
The regime also claims that their current political structure is inclusive and that they uphold women’s rights, arguing that the form of government and women’s rights are internal matters in which other countries should not interfere.
