CSTO Raises Concerns Over Afghanistan's Security & Terrorist Threats

Russia, along with fellow Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) members, voiced their apprehensions about the terrorist threats emanating from Afghanistan, highlighting the persistent issues related to terrorism and drug trafficking.

The Russian state news agency, TASS, reported that during a meeting in Moscow on Wednesday, CSTO members held a detailed discussion on Afghanistan's situation, where attendees noted the ongoing negative trends affecting the nation's social, economic, and security environments. This meeting marked the 32nd session of the organization's Foreign Ministers Council’s Working Group.

The CSTO underscored its readiness to aid in coordinating the efforts of its member states to foster stabilization and kickstart the peace process in Afghanistan, as stated in the organization's release.

Simultaneously in Moscow, the heads of the anti-terrorism national centers from CSTO countries flagged international terrorist organizations and cyber attacks as significant threats facing their nations.

According to TASS, the discussion pointed to the rise and spread of terrorist threats being linked to the activities of international terrorist groups in regions like Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq, in addition to the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East.

The meeting also delved into concerns over the illicit trafficking of weapons and ammunition into CSTO territories and the increased adoption of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, and robotics, in perpetrating threats.

The CSTO is comprised of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, all uniting under shared security concerns.