CSTO Warns of Terrorist Threats from Extremist Groups in Afghanistan
The Chief of the Joint Staff of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has warned that the presence and activities of “extremist and terrorist” groups in Afghanistan continue to pose a serious threat to the stability and security of Central Asian countries and could extend insecurity to neighboring regions.
According to TASS news agency, Andrey Serdyukov said at a press conference on Thursday that the deployment of “multiple international extremist and terrorist groups” in Afghanistan has a direct and negative impact on the security situation in Central Asia. He added that this situation increases the risk of terrorism spreading to bordering countries.
Serdyukov identified the spread of radical ideologies and drug trafficking as other major security challenges in the region; issues that have concerned Central Asian countries for years. Due to its geographical location adjacent to Central Asia, Afghanistan has always played a decisive role in the security dynamics of the area.
Years after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, concerns persist about how security threats are managed and armed groups are contained. Critics have repeatedly called on the Taliban administration to act transparently against terrorist networks and take concrete, measurable steps to prevent Afghan territory from being used against other countries.
The senior military official also described the situation in the South Caucasus as “worrying,” noting that the combination of unresolved longstanding conflicts with new geopolitical challenges has made the security conditions in the region more complex. He added that Western countries’ efforts to increase influence in the South Caucasus have exacerbated the situation.
Serdyukov concluded by emphasizing that the security environment within the CSTO’s area of responsibility remains “tense and unpredictable,” and with continuing international tensions, the likelihood of increased conflict capacities exists.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in a meeting with the CSTO head, expressed concerns about the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan. Despite establishing official relations with the Taliban administration, Russia views the presence of these groups as a direct threat to its own security and that of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries.
